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America's Cup holders Alinghi dished out praise for the new Louis Vuitton Cup champion's Emirates Team New Zealand, who won the right to challenge the Swiss for the Auld Mug in Valencia this morning.
Team New Zealand completed a 5-0 whitewash over Luna Rossa in the Louis Vuitton Cup final and will race Alinghi for yachting's biggest prize in a best of nine series beginning on June 23. Alinghi thrashed the New Zealanders 5-0 to win the Cup in 2003 in Auckland.
Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth said Team New Zealand were the form team throughout the series and was not surprised to be meeting them in the finals.
"I think it's a great result for Emirates Team New Zealand because they've sailed well throughout the whole regatta. I think for years they've been the form team coming through the challenger regattas so it's really not a big surprise.
"They have had the benefit of the Louis Vuitton series to get their game bigger and better so they are a force to be reckoned with. Obviously they are on top of their game especially winning 5-0, it's a fantastic achievement so good on them."
In analysing their victory, the former Team New Zealand crew member said that through the conditions, the Kiwi's were able to expose Luna Rossa's deficiencies.
"Emirates Team New Zealand just sailed well all the way through. They won the round robins; they picked Spain, probably the weakest team out of the four, and lost a couple of races but Spain had a very good boat and did a great job.
"They wound up sailing Luna Rossa and at this stage of the game little deficiencies in the programme are exposed in a big way. I think Luna Rossa has a problem in the lighter air and Emirates Team New Zealand just consolidated on that and sailed away."
- additional reporting NZ HERALD STAFF
