Photos: Best of the America's CupKEY POINTS:
VALENCIA - Swiss fans in Valencia have starting believing seriously that the yachting syndicate representing their country will indeed retain the America's Cup, the Tribune de Geneve newspaper reported today.
Alinghi are at match point, leading Team New Zealand 4-2 after yesterday's 28-second victory in which they overtook NZL92 on the second upwind leg.
"At the Swiss base, the atmosphere has increased a notch," the Tribune, from Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli's home city of Geneva, said.
"One final win and the Swiss boat will be able to keep the silver ware they took away from Auckland in 2003."
Another Swiss newspaper, the Lausanne-based 24 Heures, said Team NZ had held the cards in the past two races.
"If the day before, the boat helmed by Dean Barker had bad luck, betrayed by its spinnaker, this time NZL92 paid the price for a windshift on the third leg, which allowed Alinghi to come back and round the mark in front," he said.
"From there, helmsman Ed Baird and tactician Brad Butterworth has only to cover, even if the Kiwi boat threatened to the end."
It said the margin at the finish line was of little importance. Only victory counted and Team NZ could now afford not even the smallest mistake.
Le Matin, also based in Lausanne, said Alinghi had dominated Team NZ in the latest race, with the crew sailing efficiently and to a tactical plan.
In Britain, the Sunday Times said Alinghi were one race from retaining the trophy after "a gripping series of races and surprises for New Zealand".
"A week on from the first race in this extraordinary saga and no one would care to claim a glimpse of a decisive moment," it said.
"But, after their third successive defeat in Valencia yesterday, the New Zealanders now face a stark statistic. At 4-2 down, the challengers have to win three straight races against the defenders, Alinghi, to take the cup back to its modern spiritual home in Auckland."
The New York Times said Team NZ continued to look dangerous and equally fast in a wide range of conditions, but were quickly running out of time.
It noted mastman Matthew Mason's comments that Team NZ faced the same task as Australia 2, 24 years ago.
The Australians were also at match point down and needing to win the last three races, which they did to end the New York Yacht Club's 132-year hold on the cup.
"Much more will have to go the Kiwis' way after the series resumes," the Times said, "if they are to follow Australia 2's lead from 1983."
- NZPA
