KEY POINTS:
When team New Zealand's mast came crashing down in the last America's Cup, Ruth Lewis knew wherever the cup went, and if Team New Zealand were in it, she would be there.
Lewis is one of hundreds of New Zealanders in Valencia to support Team New Zealand's campaign
to win back the America's Cup.
Every race day the New Zealand supporters gather on one side of the canal loaded up with New Zealand flags, banners, toy kiwis and air horns, all decked out in black. There is also a small beige brigade.
When the slick black yachts of Team New Zealand ease, by they go mad.
Sam Mayston, from Tauranga but now living in Dubai, wears the New Zealand flag like it is a cape.
"This is fantastic," he said, grin a mile wide. "The regatta is fantastic, the buildings... everything."
Mayston is in Valencia for a week. He booked the trip when Team New Zealand was sitting precariously in third position.
"I knew they'd be right," he said.
Robyn and Jon [they didn't want to give their last names] from Auckland brought 50 New Zealand flags from home and drew up a Buzzy Bee banner.
"Is there anyone left at home?" Jon asks.
On the final day of the Louis Vuitton, Elana Hawke's 10-metre long "Go New Zealand" banner was unmissable.
Hawke, originally from Christ-church, lives just out of Valencia. She has to be one of Team New Zealand's most vocal fans.
"They are just fantastic, they are creaming everyone," she said.
So far there have been no reports of Kiwis misbehaving. With high levels of petty crime in Valencia and the America's Cup community a target, most Kiwi fans are vigilant about looking after themselves and their belongings.
Another threat is terrorism after the Basque separatist group ETA ended its 15-month ceasefire on June 6. Port security has been stepped up.
When the America's Cup match starts on June 24, Team New Zealand will have 500 or so Kiwi fans in Valencia cheering them on on behalf of all of New Zealand.
Hawke: "They have got to win. They have got to get it back."
Alinghi will have the support of Spain, if not all of Europe, simply because if they win, the cup is likely to stay in Europe.