Swiss team capsize Americans' dreams

Switzerland's Alinghi swept the Americans from the America's Cup today and then unveiled a charm offensive towards their new foes - Team New Zealand.

Disposing of Chris Dickson's Oracle 5-1 to take the Louis Vuitton Cup, the grey-clad Alinghi team face the New Zealand defenders in 26 days for the real silverware.

Thousands of fans ringed the presentation area at the Viaduct Harbour, raising muted, polite but bittersweet applause as Alinghi's former Team NZ skipper, Russell Coutts, held the trophy aloft.

Security was tight. Scuba divers were under the presentation pontoon and police vessels had been close to Alinghi craft most of the day among the 850 boats estimated to have been around the course.

In an environment in which Coutts and others have been accused of treachery and subjected to anonymous threats, both he and team boss Ernesto Bertarelli seemed quick to praise Team NZ and talk up the benefits of the great split that saw the New Zealand team dissolve in 2000.

Coutts said many positives had come from the team's parting of the ways. "There are various reasons why we changed tack after the last cup. The real story's probably yet to be told."

But he was generous towards those left at Team NZ.

"You don't really know what's going to happen. Right now we're all very impressed with Team NZ's boat and it looks like they're going to have a very, very fast boat."

Bertarelli professed huge respect for the holders. "I think the fact that Team NZ has been regenerated and there is a new generation of great sailors on board will be a huge factor in showing what this country can do for sailing.

"I have tremendous respect for Dean Barker and his team. We sailed them last year and they beat us.

"I personally enjoy their company, I respect their sailing and I'm looking forward to quite a match."

Bertarelli also paid tribute to Larry Ellison, the head of Oracle.

"When I signed up for the America's Cup I didn't know Larry was going to be competing. I just learned that afterwards. I thought Larry is going to be tough. I don't think there is a harder competitor than Larry. I am the worst loser in the world. It is a great honour to have been able to race against him and being able to meet him and see how he works," said Bertarelli.

Ellison observed wryly of Alinghi: "They were a little bit like a fine Swiss watch with some Kiwi parts."

Team New Zealand's leaders broke their silence on the team they had long expected to be their opponents.

Barker, 29, said it was clear Alinghi had a good boat and had sailed well, and it would be difficult to beat them when they were led by some of the best sailors in the world in Coutts and Brad Butterworth.

"They're certainly the yardstick. Everyone measures themselves against Russell and his team of guys.

"They've got good speed. I think their whole team is sailing well. We knew that this time was going to be harder than ever before, we've known that from day one.

"We'd love to beat them and we would love to keep the cup in New Zealand and we're going to do everything we can."

Barker, who was handed the skipper's job after Coutts left, played down talk of an extra "edge" in the America's Cup because they would be racing against former team-mates. "It doesn't change anything for us. We still have to go out and win five races."

Barker said that with the cup less than four weeks away Team New Zealand would continue with their own preparations but there were some benefits from finally knowing who their challenger would be.

"We can focus our attentions on them. We can look at how they've been sailing and what they've been doing, and try to prepare ourselves."

Team NZ syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg said today's hype was a good reminder of what the America's Cup was about. "I think it will be very, very close," he told TVNZ.

One fan at the Viaduct perhaps summed up an underlying anxiety in the crowd, saying: "It will now be Kiwis against Kiwis and ... they think alike."

Among the tens of thousands of people who lined Hobson Wharf and the Viaduct Harbour, Jo Bright from Tauranga said Alinghi were going to prove tough competition.

"We can do it. New Zealand is all behind them.

"It will be a tough competition. It will be Kiwis against Kiwis. They think alike.

"They both know the water really well.

"I'm not taking sides until we start racing. Whichever way it goes we have got a Kiwi there."

Swiss-born Claudio Ruegger of Torbay, in red and white supporters T-shirt, said he did not understand the animosity some people had towards the New Zealand sailors on Alinghi.

"It's got to be good for New Zealand because there are New Zealanders on both sides.

"I'm going to go for Alinghi. It's time for a bit of a change. New Zealand has won it twice. I've got to go for my birth country.

"I think Team NZ is quite scared. Alinghi has been doing so well."

Pierre Vuilleumier, who left Napier at 3am to arrive for the racing, had a giant cow-bell. "I think New Zealanders can be just as proud as the Swiss."

He hoped to see some "nice" racing.

Oracle's departure means no Americans in the cup match for the second consecutive time, after the Italian Prada team's Louis Vuitton win in 2000.

Dickson, Oracle's New Zealand skipper, said it was no fun coming second. "It's Alinghi's day, it's Alinghi's week."

Asked if he would be back, he said: "I will go and lie low for a few days and see how I feel in a week or two."

Larry Ellison has vowed to be back. Oracle, apparently, has already signed up two people for the next cup - most likely to be Dickson and designer Bruce Farr.

Today, though, was the day of the Swiss team with the made-up name and a crew made up of 14 nationalities.

Tomorrow the focus will be on that Team New Switzerland against the New Team New Zealand.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

Racing schedule, results and standings