Peter Burling and the rest of Team New Zealand with the Auld Mug. Photo / Getty Images
Peter Burling and the rest of Team New Zealand with the Auld Mug. Photo / Getty Images
The America's Cup is still New Zealand's Cup.
Team New Zealand on Wednesday claimed the Auld Mug for a fourth time - 26 years after their maiden triumph - by winning race 10 against Luna Rossa by 46 seconds and the best-of-13 final series 7-3.
The victory saw New Zealandmake history by becoming the first team to defend the Cup twice outside of the US.
Here is how the drama unfolded - and all the reaction to a magic day.
Peter Burling knows that winning feeling, but down the line, he might look back on his latest triumph as his most memorable.
In front of thousands of fans on the water and in the America's Cup village, Burling and his Team New Zealand crew sailed to victory on home water in the 36th America's Cup.
Peter Burling and the rest of Team New Zealand with the Auld Mug. Photo / Getty Images
After leading the charge in the team's challenge in Bermuda in 2017, Burling was again at the helm as the crew defended the Auld Mug, topping Luna Rossa 7-3 in the match.
"Pete, if you can hear me, congrats, mate, to you and the whole team," Spithill said after the race.
"Full credit to Team New Zealand...they developed a fantastic package and deservedly champions. We need to go have a beer with the Kiwis."
Challenge accepted!
A challenge for the 37th America's Cup has already been issued and accepted, with the start of the process beginning out on the water as soon as Team New Zealand secured the Auld Mug.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron general manager Hayden Porter confirmed the club had received a new challenge when speaking to Newstalk ZB's Heather du Plessis-Allan this afternoon, but would not say where the challenge had come from.
Exactly three months to the day since AC75 boats first took to the water in competition off the coast of Auckland, Team New Zealand have emerged triumphant.
Only hours before Team New Zealand's stunning success, Newstalk ZB reported that Team New Zealand were considering a radical proposal for the next defence - a one-off defence against Ineos Team UK excluding other challengers on the Isle of Wight next year.
