Compiled by JULIE ASH
Alinghi skipper Russell Coutts may have more than one reason to celebrate today.
Coutts and Alinghi are just one win away from getting their hands on the America's Cup.
If they succeed it will be a great day for Coutts, who couldn't wish for a better present on his
41st birthday - the Auld Mug.
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Although the regatta is being sailed on the other side of the world, Switzerland is right behind its team.
Throughout the country a carnival is being held to celebrate the end of winter.
As part of the celebrations there is a parade in the city of Saint-Maurice tomorrow afternoon. One of the floats has been dedicated to Alinghi to honour their achievements in Auckland.
A win for the Swiss today also means the cup will go to Europe for the first time.
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While the weather rather than the racing has been the talking point of late - looking back at the challenger series, Bruno Trouble, director of the Louis Vuitton Cup media centre, made the following analysis:
For racing in the challenger series to start, the wind speed had to average between 7 and 19 knots over a five-minute period.
But according to Trouble, if the upper end was increased to 25 knots, only six races would have been postponed in the series instead of 22.
Nice to know that now.
* * *
There was little rest for Team New Zealand during the nine-day break between races three and four.
The sailors made regular visits to the gym, went running and spent a day swimming at the hot pools to keep in shape.
"Most of us have put on 5kg during the last week," laughs syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg.
"But that's okay because we can take a little more weight on the boat."
* * *
Syndicate Row is well on its way to a new life. GBR Challenge's boat shed is making way for apartments, while Team Dennis Conner's base is all but packed up.
Continuous coverage of today's America's Cup race will begin on nzherald.co.nz at 12.30pm.
Race 4: Pictures of the dismasting | Commentary
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule and results
