It wasn't just Team New Zealand who thought they had the second cup race turning for home on Sunday.
In his column in the Daily Telegraph, Russell Coutts hinted he thought it was heading for 1-1.
"To be brutally honest, until that last leg I didn't think we would come back," he wrote.
"Coming into the final leg, an opportunity developed. We were behind but definitely in it. Always in these cup races you need to give yourself a chance. They are high-pressure situations for both crews.
"Opportunities arise, errors are made and chances are created. The key is to be close enough to capitalise."
As it proved in the 7s win.
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Team New Zealand chef Gretel Jack served up a special meal for the boys yesterday before they headed out to battle with Alinghi.
On the menu for breakfast, which often resembles most people's lunches or dinners, were chicken burritos, which Jack thought would "give Team New Zealand wings".
Unfortunately it was wind rather than wings which was needed for the defenders.
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Not that she would ever need a job - married to Swiss pharmaceutical billionaire and Alinghi syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli - but if she did Kirsty Bertarelli could always turn to cheer-leading.
The energetic Bertarelli and a group of friends decided to surprise the Alinghi sailors as they left the Viaduct Basin bound for the battle field on the Hauraki Gulf yesterday.
They crouched down on Bertarelli's super-yacht Vava then, as the team's yachts passed by, they jumped up and did a Mexican wave. On their shirts were printed one letter of the word A, L, I, N, G, H, I.
The challengers loved it - and Bertarelli blew a kiss to his wife.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule and results
<i>Spinnaker run:</i> Coutts: the brutal truth
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