Subdued Team NZ hand over the Cup

By HELEN TUNNAH

It was one of those excruciating moments many watching just wanted to end. Handing the America's Cup to Alinghi hurt Team New Zealand today, and it showed.

Just 24 hours after losing 5-0 to Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, the despair of sitting through an hour-long official prizegiving ceremony was evident in the lowered heads and slumped shoulders.

Organisers had tried to spare the home team's blushes. A video celebrating the highlights of the cup carefully avoided Team New Zealand's worst moments.

There were no pictures of the Black Boat filling with water, breaking a boom and pulling out of that vital first race. And no shots of the mast snapping in the catastrophic fourth loss.

Even so, skipper Dean Barker and his crew clearly wanted to be somewhere else.

Typically, it was syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg who remained just positive enough to smile for the official photographs, and his words were most gracious in defeat.

"You have earned it," he told Alinghi, his voice choked with emotion. "Alinghi, on behalf of the entire Team New Zealand, I want to congratulate you for a job well done. You have done Switzerland proud.

"I must also thank the people of New Zealand. The loyalty and support we experienced was truly uplifting and helped us through what was quite a disappointing campaign for us."

But the handover of the Auld Mug to Alinghi could not avoid some of the bitter niggle which has marred the regatta.

With Alinghi due today to announce how it will run its defence, America's Cup 2003 event director Tony Thomas worried for the event.

"Although it is a winner-takes-all trophy, I personally hope some of the traditions of the cup are retained," he said.

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Commodore Bill Endean praised Alinghi, but reminded everyone how their formation had affected Team New Zealand.

"There was almost another precedent set in America's Cup history, with the defender not having a team to represent it."

It was all too much for Bertarelli. He finished his pleasantries, but made it clear he understood history very well.

"Rest assured ... we understand the value of the cup. We have a long history in Switzerland of 700 years of democracy. We know what tradition is, we know what history is."

Alinghi's families had been the secret of their success, he said. "Our families - in the tough, the rough, the abuse and the difficulties - always stood behind Alinghi and believed that we were doing something right."

The Cup's journey

* Cup flies to Switzerland on Friday

* A parade will be held in Geneva this weekend

* The cup will be housed at the Societe Nautique de Geneve yacht club, on the shores of Lake Geneva

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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