KEY POINTS:
Alinghi have an aura about them, but Team New Zealand can draw confidence from their last yachting head-to-head with the America's Cup holders, skipper Dean Barker said today.
Team NZ completed a 5-0 whitewash of Italy's Luna Rossa off Valencia to earn a cup rematch with the syndicate that took the Auld Mug off them in Auckland four years ago.
The best-of-nine series for the sport's biggest prize will begin on June 24 (NZT).
Team NZ's last match-racing encounter with Alinghi was last July in the final of the Louis Vuitton Act 12 regatta, and the New Zealanders won 2-1.
Barker said Team NZ had huge respect for the defenders, who had been the form team of the build-up events over the past three years.
"There is the aura of Alinghi, because they have been so dominant and so good," he said.
"But one of the things that made us realise there was light at the end of the tunnel was Act 12 last year."
Barker conceded that, at the time, Team NZ raced a new boat, NZL84, against an older one, SUI75.
"But to go out and win the final was a huge confidence boost for the team."
He said Team NZ knew they would have to go up another gear from their performance against Luna Rossa over the past week.
Alinghi were sure to have good equipment and be slick around the race track.
In April, they dominated the final build-up regatta, the Act 13 fleet racing event, and they used SUI91 rather than their newest yacht, SUI100.
"We know 91 is no slouch, so you can only assume 100 is maybe click on from that," Barker said.
"We're certainly not expecting anything but lining up against a very fast boat."
Barker was skipper when Team NZ lost the America's Cup to Alinghi in an embarrassing defence that featured serious equipment failure and a 5-0 score line.
He said the syndicate now was fundamentally different from "the dark days of 2003".
Under managing director Grant Dalton, who was hired in the wake of the cup defeat, the team were stronger.
They were also match-hardened after having come through six weeks of competition in the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers' regatta.
What would happen in the America's Cup was anyone's guess, Barker said.
But Team NZ had steadily lifted their game over each stage of the challengers' series.
"We've improved every round, every race," he said.
"From where we were at the start of the round robins until now, we are a long way further ahead."
Team NZ had begun the LV Cup in an inauspicious manner, getting beaten first-up.
"To lose our first race in the round robin against Mascalzone Latino was tough for the team," he said.
"But the one thing we've worked very hard on is the people side of things -- the ability to stay focused and to stay strong."
There were two further losses in the opening round robin, before Team NZ stepped up a gear and went through the second round robin undefeated.
In the semifinals, they duly despatched Spanish underdogs Desafio Espanol 5-2, before sweeping Luna Rossa in a final than many had thought would go the distance.
The fact that Team NZ led around every mark emphasised their dominance over the Italians.
As they crossed the finish line today for a 22-second victory that booked their meeting with Alinghi, the crew for once allowed themselves a show of emotion, with smiles, handshakes and hugs.
But they were careful not to overdo it.
"While we're going to enjoy the moment," Barker said, "we know there's another step to take."
- NZPA
Full coverage of the America's Cup from nzherald.co.nz/americascup and desktoptv.co.nz
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