KEY POINTS:
Alinghi syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli has accused Team new Zealand supporters of souring the regatta by abusing Kiwi members of his syndicate.
The reponse from readers in Valencia has been mixed, with some saying they are ashamed of the behaviour of New Zealanders, while others said the Kiwis are adding to the colour of the event.
Here's a selection of the comments:
Mark Hutchison (London UK)
After arriving back home from witnessing the finals first hand I find it very hard to believe that the kiwi supporters in Valencia where anything less than superb ambassadors for our country.For Ernesto Bertarelli to make such pointless and unproven accusations is a clear indication of his worry at the challengers awaiting him. If he believes that tainting our good name can help his team then so be it. Thats not the kiwi way though. He should leave the sour comments at home and enjoy the future match racing which we all look forward to in anticipation. Come on Ernie get into the cup with constructive ambitious comments.Bring it home guys.
Anna (Kiwi in Valencia)
Sadly Ernesto Bertarelli is absolutely right when he talks about the 'ugly Kiwi fans'. During tow outs the Alinghi boats are brown-eyed, Alinghi staff are abused in the local bars and there is a level of Kiwi chest beating that is beyond belief. I have a 'Proud to be Kiwi' cap that sits in my wardrobe. I'm not proud to be a Kiwi in Valencia - I'm ashamed by the actions of my fellow countrymen and women. I don't wish to take anything away from Emirates Team New Zealand (somehow the Herald reporters drop the word Emirates from their name), they're a wonderful team. Shame about their supporters.
Kiwi (Valenica)
Ok, so most of the people that have made comments are not actually in Valencia - so they have no idea what is going on. The Alinghi sailors get abused by Kiwi fans on a daily basis. You have to remember that not every sailor (or hundreds of other positions that Kiwis hold in America´s Cup teams) can be employed by Team New Zealand. It is not everybody's first choice to sail for another team, but are they supposed to give up their sailing career, just so the Kiwi public can slap loyal stickers on their chests?
Kiwi living in Valencia
Out of order, Mr. B. This is just the start of your pre AC-Cup wind-up isn't it? Yes, the NZ fans are having fun, but they are not aggressive to the Alinghi Kiwis, (or the Oracle Kiwis, or any other team stacked with Kiwis). They don't need to because they know that we can beat them on the water this time. Anyway, how could they? Alinghi rarely show their faces in public. They arrive in their company Mercs, eat in a cocooned base, then go home to their plush apartments. If you read the media here, you'll soon see that e-v-e-r-y Valenciano wants ETNZ to lose. This psychological aggression started before we won the LV Cup. The real issue is that Valencia and Bertarelli stand to lose big bucks when the cup leaves Valencia, not least being their reported discussions with Bernie Ecclestone to share revenue when Formula 1 comes here, using the current AC bases as spectator stands. The nationality issue is a red herring. I think Bertarelli is just coming to the realisation that soon he won't be able to b-u-y the America's Cup any more? Mr. B., shouldn't this be more about sport, sailing etc. and not about ego, profit and cheap shots?
Valencia
This story is a joke. Here in Valencia there is a wonderful spirit amongst all the Kiwis, whether they are in Alingi, are 1 of the 1000 odd from teams already knocked out or 1 of the 1000s who have used the event as an excuse to come and see Spain and Europe. There is no animosity being shown to any of the Kiwi or Alingi sailors. This story is the first they have heard of it. Every boat, every team gets hearty applause from those standing along the concourse, which is a lot more than an Auckland team gets when running onto Carisbrook. So it seems Mr Bertarelli says something in the media and then, over 10000 miles away, a bunch of NZers take it as gospel and start forming opinions based on this - these people are the joke.
Vixen in Valencia
I have been in Valencia and out on the water every day of racing since March this year and the only negative feedback I have heard has been since ETNZ won race 5 of the Louis Vuitton and directed at the Kiwi's. Locals do not want the Kiwi's to win and take the cup home to NZ, they want it to stay in their back yard, Europe. This is all a storm in a tea cup and the dust needs to settle back down.
Raro (Spain)
First we have to win the cup and having watched the Luis Vuitton in Valencia, I was very impressed with the venue and the behaviour of the Kiwi fans in and around us at the time. Everyone was having a great time, albeit a little better than the Italians, with whom the interaction was fun and the wagers paid and collected (beverages) in full. Regarding the nationality issue, if there are restrictions put in place, surely it will result in numerous Kiwi sailors being unable to find a spot on a boat especially if you are out of favour with the current team. Are there not current All Blacks selling their skills to the highest bidders after the upcoming world cup?
Tim Smyth (Valencia)
The behaviour of kiwi fans in Valencia does makes me ashamed to be from NZ, many are drunk by early evening and Spanish friends of mine have seen them vomiting in the streets. They wave the (boring) kiwi flag around which most confuse for a UK flag and make an unintelligible racket. Insults were often hurled at Alinghi and Oracle as their boats pass thru the narrow canal and on occasion empty cans and fruit have been thrown also. The Spanish are well aware that the New Zealand boat is a Spanish design and it is almost always the American tactician that appears on TV here representing the New Zealand team.
I guess it is great to have a good time banging the Patriotic drum but many of the comments made on this topic are so badly informed, for example there was no tradition of Nationality in the crew list ever in the deed of gift until the Americans wrote it in 1980 to frustrate Bond and his American Tactician (we have one now thanks to Alinghi). Crews have traditionally been from mixed nationalities throughout most of Americas Cup history. As a country we look like having a nasty case of small man's disease.
Vicki
I was in Valencia for the Louis Vuitton Cup last week and found nothing but genuine support for the kiwis. It is disappointing to hear of bad behaviour reported on our part. Everywhere I went with my inflatable kiwi i was welcomed and often approached to talk about New Zealand and what a spectacular place I was so lucky to be from. Perhaps I was oblivious to bad behaviour due to the fact i was busy spreading the good word of Aotearoa to my new-found European friends? I hope there will be no further bad behaviour rumours for the America's Cup, as it seems such a shame to taint such an awesome event!
Lauren (Spain)
My name is Lauren and I am an exchange student living in Spain for a year. I just recently went to Valencia with my parents and I thought the atmosphere was quite good. The people are friendly, and of course there are a lot of people supporting Team NZ because we New Zealanders are like that. Valencia is a great city, and we should be supporting everyone, whichever team they go for.
Mark O'Brien Valencia)
I've been in Valencia for three months, and have enjoyed the atmosphere, until loads of drunken Kiwis turned up for the LV finals...chanting "4 nil...4-nil" outside the Luna Rossa base before the last race. It did nothing to enhance the European view of kiwi sportsmanship. A comment from an American colleague... "Kiwis, gracious in victory and defeat!!!" sums up the embarrassment starting to be felt here. I hope the "loyal" lunatics stay away during the Cup.
Elizabeth (Spain)
I am an American in Spain for the America's Cup and I completely agree that the NZ fans are turning the mood into an ugly one here in Valencia. We have been out on spectator boats with our small children and because we support Alinghi, we have unrelentingly booed and jeered by Emirate fans. Unsportsmanlike Kiwis (aside from those on the Emirates Team NZ) abound here in Valencia. They scream into the Alinghi base, they boo and yell "traitors" every time the Alinghi yachts leave the harbor, they have disrupted families cheering for Luna Rossa yelling "Why bother? They are gonna lose anyway!" I don't understand this mentality nor can I explain it to my children when they ask why these people are yelling at us. It is over the line of being competitive and has become mean spirited. New Zealand is a beautiful country filled with beautiful, generous people. These fans, as the Blackhearts did for the 2003 Cup, have tainted your great name.
Steve
Absolutely appalling behaviour, and a lot of aggression shown towards others, I'm embarrassed to be a kiwi at the moment.
Ringo
After just getting back from Valencia I would say he is just worried about how much awesome support Team NZ has over there compared to what the Swiss boat is going to get... Maybe the nationality rules are going to count against him there. We should be proud of all the kiwis making the effort and going over there to support our boys and the event and so should he, It would be a pretty dull atmosphere there without us!
Scott (Valencia)
I've been in Valencia for four (on & off) years and seen all the acts in different countries as well as here in Valencia. I have to say that no country has stood out so badly as the kiwi supporters (the closest was the Chelsea supporters when they came over to watch the soccer). Our fellow countrymen are rude, abusive and can't handle the cheap alcohol and late closing hours. NZ shameful binge drinking heritage is being shown to the world over here. I have my "bring the cup home" T-shirt but I am embarrassed to wear it and be associated with these "kiwi" supporters.
