Schnack: We will be back

By JULIE ASH

Where to now for Team New Zealand?

That is the question after Russell Coutts and his Swiss syndicate Alinghi took yachting's greatest prize off them.

Beaten 5-0 by Alinghi, Team New Zealand surrendered the Auld Mug to the Swiss yesterday afternoon in front of a stunned and almost silent Auckland crowd.

The final nail in the coffin came yesterday when Team New Zealand were beaten in race five by 45s.

Alinghi dominated round the course, yet again, and to add further insult to injury Team New Zealand broke their spinnaker pole on the second downwind leg.

"I think today they showed just how strong their team are," said Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker.

"They were spot-on off the startline, they were fast and sailed well around the course. They outsailed us today."

While the celebrations have just begun for the Swiss, at Team New Zealand it is time for the post mortem.

The list of what went wrong must start with the Black Boat and how it failed to finished in two of the five races.

"We were very pleased with our boat," said Barker. "In every race that we were able to sail near Alinghi we were happy with our speed.

"There was never a huge difference in boat speed, although they were in different modes, but I think our design team did a good job.

"To me it doesn't feel like we have made any mistakes. I have a huge amount of respect for the other team but I think our team have done a fantastic job.

"But the odds were stacked against us as the challengers were all of a high level. I am very proud to part of Team New Zealand and the team we put together. All credit to Alinghi. They set a new level for others to achieve."

When asked what the future holds, Barker said the team will have the next couple of days off before regrouping to discuss the future.

Team New Zealand syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg was adamant this did not spell the end for Team New Zealand.

"Everyone in this team has enjoyed this campaign immensely," he said. "We worked very hard to put together the best boat and the best crew but it was not good enough and I take my hat off to Alinghi. We think this is a building block and we think we can create a formidable campaign in the next event."

Schnackenberg is convinced "more than ever" that New Zealand can regain the cup.

"I think we have what it takes."

For Alinghi, the win is a remarkable effort. Never before has a first-time challenger won the America's Cup.

A flag with the words "we did it" written across it and a broom to indicate a clean sweep draped off the Swiss race boat SUI64 as it was towed back into the viaduct last night.

For Coutts it is 14 consecutive cup wins, which passes Dennis Conner's overall record of 13. But for the five other former Team New Zealand members - Brad Butterworth, Murray Jones, Simon Daubney, Dean Phipps and Warwick Fleury - it is their 15th.

"I am immensely proud of what we have achieved in Alinghi," Coutts said. "The challenge for Alinghi now is to try and do what has been done in New Zealand."

Coutts said Alinghi had made significant improvements in their race boat SUI64 since they first started racing in October.

"[It's] a lot faster, way way faster. We changed 64 extensively."

Coutts' boat always pointed higher but sailed slower than Team New Zealand's Black Boat during the five races, but he said that should be attributed to German strategist Jochen Schuemann.

"I was actually in favour of developing a low-fast boat like Team New Zealand but Jochen wanted a higher mode. We let the best idea win and his was the best idea."

Coutts said 64 had been a very good boat, with their newer boat SUI75, which never raced, a more conservative option built to match their opponents.