KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand will take plenty from their dominant performance in the challenger series final to the America's Cup match.
I never expected them to beat Luna Rossa 5-0. I did think the Kiwis would win it, but perhaps 5-2 or 5-3.
It is a funny old game when a team gets on a roll. Certainly Team New Zealand were quicker. Maybe one or two degrees higher on the wind when they wanted to be, which is not a lot, but it gives you those little metre gains that can be used as a tactical tool.
NZL92 seemed to accelerate a bit better out of tacks than Luna Rossa, which we expected because the Luna Rossa boat had more wetted surface and therefore more drag because of its hull shape.
Downwind, Team New Zealand were always able to stretch. Those little things were all valuable.
If a team are sailing well and get some momentum it can be hard to break. But there is an element of luck, and it went Team New Zealand's way in the final race. They produced almost a perfect regatta in the way they sailed and the way they set the boat up for the conditions.
Luna Rossa's performance makes one wonder if they sailed their best matches in their semifinal against Oracle.
The conditions probably suited them more as there was a wee bit more wind. I think their window of being quick is quite narrow - flat water and pressed up in 14-15 knots.
It is the second time in seven years that Luna Rossa have been taken apart by the Kiwis.The first was in the 2000 regatta, when they were beaten by the same 5-0 margin.
There is almost an uncanny similarity between the two regattas. In both cases Team New Zealand got on top early, and the Italians could do little about it.
The package Team New Zealand has with NZL92 is strong. It is a forgiving boat over a range of conditions.
So far, they've produced a huge achievement. It is often thought that winning the America's Cup is easier than winning the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Are Team New Zealand going to be fast enough? We don't know.
I think they will be. If they are even, given the nature of the challenger series, you'd have to favour the Kiwis.
If Alinghi have something special on their boat - maybe something different with their keel - and they have a faster boat, it will be difficult for Team New Zealand.
