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Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth still maintained yesterday the America's Cup was a design race.
But his boss, Ernesto Bertarelli, was labelling the Kiwi tactician as the best sailor in the world.
If anything, Alinghi's successful defence was a combination of the two.
While SUI100 and NZL92 were relatively even, the Swiss boat showed small spurts of speed at crucial times.
Although there were plenty of lead changes in the regatta, whenever NZL92 was in front it was never quite able to shake the Swiss boat.
And Butterworth's uncanny ability to spot wind shifts and pressure allowed the Swiss to come from behind and beat Team New Zealand in three races.
"He is the best sailor in the world," Bertarelli said, which drew a retort from Butterworth that he was biased.
"Off the start line, Ed Baird [Alinghi helmsman] did a great job in this regatta to be able to sail in close proximity to another yacht in a slightly disadvantaged position and that doesn't happen. You have to have a little edge to do that," Butterworth said.
It was the fourth consecutive America's Cup win for Butterworth and four other Kiwis on the Swiss boat - Murray Jones, Dean Phipps, Simon Daubney and Warwick Fleury.
"I have been lucky with the guys I have sailed with," Butterworth said.
"Simon, Dean, Warwick and Murray. We have been together for years and it has been a fantastic partnership and friendship. We have ended up in another team and with such a strong group of people.
"It has been fulfilling to sail with the best people in the world and show it in a regatta that has gone down to the wire. It has been different to the 5-0 of the others - it has been really tough at times. To win against a team we have been so close to shows the strength of our group."
Butterworth said this win was the favourite of his four cup victories.
"The cup is getting bigger and better. Defending with Team NZ was a fantastic achievement because it had not been defended outside the US but, now 150 years later, it is defended in Europe for the first time by this team."
It has been widely tipped Butterworth and his Kiwi crew mates are to jump ship to join Russell Coutts on Oracle but, yesterday, he was non-committal on that prospect.
"I am happy with the position we are in. I would love to stay with this team as we have a good thing going," he said.
With the birth of his children, Bertarelli labelled the day as the best of his life.
"This is definitely bigger and better than last time," he said. "It has been much, much harder than I thought."
Bertarelli said Valencia had been a great host but would not comment further about the next venue. The rules for the next event will be announced tomorrow night.
Desafio Espanol will be Alinghi's next official challenger after the Spanish syndicate's president, Manuel Chirivella, signed the protocol allowing it to be the official "challenger of record".
The challenger helps set the format of the America's Cup regatta, while representing all the challengers in negotiations with the winner. Oracle was the "challenger of record" for this year's cup.
