KEY POINTS:
First and foremost on any wishlist is the man who got the blood pumping in Team New Zealand again after the disastrous 2003 defeat.
Grant Dalton.
Dalton was honest after this week's defeat, saying his performance would need to be reviewed before he committed to another challenge. But
to go on without him would be criminal.
His leadership, no-nonsense attitude, drive and passion was what got Team New Zealand to the America's Cup match.
Dalton took responsibility for the whole team, hence his sheer disappointment at their failure to achieve what they set out to do.
Dalton's lieutenant, Kevin Shoebridge, was also a key factor in Team New Zealand's resurrection. Shoebridge was the operations manager and had a tremendous amount of respect from everyone in the syndicate, particularly from the sailing team which he managed. He should be retained.
It would be wise for Team New Zealand to secure the core members of the design team which came up with two solid boats in NZL84 and NZL92.
The must haves would be design co-ordinator Andy Claughton and Spaniard Marcellino Botin. The black boats' big fuller bows, which set a trend among the other teams, were widely attributed to Botin. Others worth fighting for would be Clay Oliver, structural designer Giovanni Belgrano, sail designer Burns Fallow and rig designer Martin McElwee.
Bit it did appear Alinghi had a tiny click of speed over the Kiwis and so Team New Zealand will need to evaluate their performance design-wise to ensure they can step up.
Lester: "The area that still nags in my mind is the whole inter-relation between the keel, the rig and the boat. If Alinghi have got a keel that reduces deflection they have an advantage. If Alinghi have got something going on there and I have every reason to believe they have, because they had a small advantage, Team New Zealand need to figure that out."
Looking at the sailing team, all 17 men who sailed in the America's Cup match are worth retaining. Their performance throughout the entire three-month series was of a high standard.
Skipper Dean Barker has proved himself and should be retained but some thought might have to go into the remainder of the afterguard.
Lester: "I am not sure about Terry Hutchinson [tactician] and Kevin Hall [navigator]. Terry did a hell of a job but he was completely overshadowed by Brad Butterworth. But Brad is in another league, mind you. So do you keep developing the person or do you move on?
"The navigator role, which is more of a performance analyst role, could be a potential area as well."
Ray Davies would be another must-have. He was strategist in this campaign but could probably be turned into a tactician. Davies has signed up for the next round-the-world race which could conflict with the Cup if it goes ahead in 2009. Another must-have in the back of the boat would be windspotter Adam Beashel.
The experience that Matthew Mason (mastman) and Don Cowie (mainsheet trimmer) brought to the middle of the boat make them worth holding onto.
Lester: "I'd keep all the grinders, the trimmers and the front of the boat. I don't think there is anyone in there aside from the mix of the afterguard which you might look at and think ' ... Well'."
Having a strong sailing squad or a B team is also necessary, and that is where Team New Zealand may have to do some major recruiting with the likes of Ben Ainslie likely to move to the British challenge.
Also important to retain would be the weather team - headed by Roger Badham - which was probably the best in Valencia.
