KEY POINTS:
Defeated Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill says if Team New Zealand can produce a similar performance against Alinghi then they have a real chance of winning the America's Cup.
Spithill's Italian team felt the full force of a determined Kiwi side in the challenger series final, losing 5-0.
The New Zealanders outclassed the Italians on all fronts.
NZL92 looked faster, the team's weather calls and tactical decision-making was spot on, it was hard to find fault in their crew work and Barker performed solidly against Spithill.
But Team New Zealand will need to keep improving if they want to wrestle the old mug off Brad Butterworth's Swiss syndicate Alinghi.
"At the end of the day the Kiwis sailed a fantastic series and really didn't put a foot wrong all week," Spithill said.
"They were too strong. If they produce a similar performance against Alinghi then they have a real chance of winning." Alinghi have been dominant over the last four years, winning eight of the 13 pre-regattas. Their first new boat SUI91 was successful in the final cup pre-regatta this year. Yet in the six times it has lined up against Team New Zealand it has won only two encounters.
The million-dollar question is what do the Swiss have in SUI100?
"We are not expecting anything other than to be lining up against a very fast boat," said Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker.
"We are going to be working very hard in this break to take another step up ourselves. It gets harder and harder. But it feels like every step of the way we have been able to move on a little bit."
But the boat is not the only question mark hanging over the Swiss, there is also interest in how they will fare without the steady hand of Russell Coutts at the helm. But before Team New Zealand worry about the Swiss, they will take a couple of days off where they will no doubt reflect on what they have achieved.
Then it will be back out to the racetrack for some racing and fine-tuning.
Desafio Espanol gave the New Zealanders an insight into what they saw as their strengths and weaknesses after the semifinals.
Tactician Terry Hutchinson said this information was extremely useful.
Although they have lined up against Alinghi in recent weeks, Team New Zealand are not planning to do so again, although they are keen to race other teams.
Full coverage of the America's Cup from nzherald.co.nz/americascup and desktoptv.co.nz
