KEY POINTS:
VALENCIA - The world's media, including newspapers in Alinghi's home country Switzerland, have welcomed Team New Zealand's comeback win for setting the America's Cup alight.
British newspaper The Times hailed Team New Zealand's victory as the start of what could be the best America's Cup ever.
Its writer
Matthew Pryor says the event has turned into a "design race" but he notes that New Zealand "have not been out-designed".
"If it turns out to be about windshifts, Alinghi appear to be feeling the pressure and some of the toys came out of their expensive pram," he said.
The Guardian correspondent puts the win down to Dean Barker's more aggressive attitude in race two.
"His manoeuvres were often breathtaking and he claimed three times that Alinghi had fouled. The umpires thought otherwise but it no doubt upset Ed Baird, the Alinghi helmsman."
In South Africa, the Independent Online said the shock win by Team New Zealand has got Valencia buzzing.
The website's correspondent said: "The Kiwis, who often bemoan their low budget, stand out in light winds, such as when they won in on Sunday".
The American based Yachting World website turned on the poetry in a comparative analysis of both races.
"In both races, five minutes after the start SUI100 Alinghi was climbing like a demon without appearing to lose speed," it said.
The article provides some good reading for the Team New Zealand strategy camp, identifying Alinghi's weak points: "She appears to have an Achilles heel when it comes to altering course, particularly in tacks and gybes where helmsman Ed Baird is forced to steer SUI100 through some pretty big angles to keep her moving."
It ends with some sobering comment. Yachting World said if the black boat can stay within 20 seconds of Alinghi - which so far they have been able to - then a start penalty or a slip-up could win them the race.
In Switzerland, Le Temps described what was developing in the best-of-nine match, which is locked at 1-1, as "a real duel of titans".
"The day of June 24 has now entered history," it said.
"Whatever the outcome of the 32nd America's Cup, this first weekend has engraved a new face to an event which, for some years, has suffered from a lack of suspense. That is no longer the case."
Alinghi and Team NZ had produced a dream spectacle over the opening two days, with two competitive and captivating contests.
24 Heures said NZL92's 28-second victory had saved the series from boredom, while also making Alinghi less sure of itself.
After the Swiss won in the opening race, "the fear of witnessing a new crushing domination by the defenders hung over Port America's Cup", it said.
"After yesterday, we know the match isn't going to end with the same result (5-0) as the three previous editions."
The paper said the tiniest error in race two had proved expensive, something the Swiss defenders had learnt to their regret.
Le Matin also highlighted the incident seen as the turning point in the encounter, saying a too-early lee-bow tack by SUI100 up the second beat had cost the Swiss a comfortable lead and with it victory.
It referred to a comment by syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli on the eve of the match: "There is not enough difference between the boats to make up for a mistake."
- NZHERALD STAFF, NZPA
