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VALENCIA - Team New Zealand completed a 5-2 semi-final win over the Spanish Challenge off Valencia earlier today and now has eight days before the final series begins.
The New Zealanders had the race won at the start after Barker boxed the Spanish out and powered over the line 14s ahead.
"That boat looks superb," was radio commentator Matthew Sheahan's description of NZL92 as her bow went down and she ploughed through the lumpy Mediterranean Sea.
The race was not without it dramas. In scenes reminiscent of 2003, the Spanish were forced to use buckets to bail water out of their boat in the huge swell while Emirates Team New Zealand's mid-bowman, Richard Meachem, was washed down the deck, injuring his hand.
Team New Zealand rounded the first mark 38s ahead, extending that to 50s on the first downwind leg. From there the lead was never under threat.
In typical Kiwi fashion the win was downplayed with just a few handshakes and backslaps amongst the crew to acknowledge the achievement.
For the vibrant Spanish team the loss marks the end of their America's Cup journey, but they bow out having reached their goal of a place in the semifinals.
The New Zealanders will line up against Italians Luna Rossa in a best of nine series starting on June 1.
They will have two days off but then it will be back to the racecourse sharpening up for the battle with Luna Rossa who have already been back training on the water after their shock semifinal win over BMW Oracle.
"At this stage of the competition rest is as much as a vital part of our preparation as the things we can do to our boat," said Team New Zealand tactician Terry Hutchinson.
"I think we have a pretty good handle on things we can do to our boat to match Luna Rossa. We'll decide what we are going to do if we do anything.
"Getting rest is equally as important. Then there is a lot of little things we can do better. If we want to beat Luna Rossa we are going to have to sail better and raise our game another level."
In typical Kiwi fashion the win was downplayed with just a few handshakes and backslaps amongst the crew to acknowledge the achievement.
Wavy
"It was wavy today," said Spanish helmsman Karol Jablonski. "Today was always going to be a swimming contest for the genoa trimmer but during the race I thought we were almost in a sinking contest."
"Congratulations to Team New Zealand they deserved to win today and in the semifinals," Jablonski said.
"We are very happy that we got so far. Before the semifinals nobody actually thought they we would make it through to Tuesday. We managed to sail a couple of good races. I am very happy with the performance on the team."
"For us we haven't sailed for a long, long time in those sort of waves. It made it very difficult to get the boat fast in those conditions. We tried to sail our best but it wasn't enough to beat Team New Zealand who were more experienced in those conditions."
The Spanish syndicate are keen to mount another challenge.
"First we all need to time to realise what we have achieved and how far we got." Jablonski said.
"We will continue this project."
It is the fourth time New Zealand have made the challenger series final.
The first was in 1987 with KZ7 at Fremantle where they lost to Dennis Conner 4-1, the second in 1992 with NZL20 when they lost to Paul Cayard's Il Moro di Venezia.
But how can one forget the win which came 12 years ago in San Diego?
In those days the team consisted of 65 people and had a budget of between $20 million and $30 million. This Team New Zealand has 120 members and an estimated budget of $130 million.
The 1995, under the leadership of the late Sir Peter Blake, they dominated the challenger series then went on to beat Dennis Conner 5-0 in the match.
- with NEWSTALK ZB
