Dean Barker and his Team New Zealand crew received a rousing send-off at the Viaduct Harbour this morning from diehard fans who put a smile on what could be the final day of the 31st America's Cup.
Sporting a new mast after the $900,000 carbon-fibre mast crasheddown in heavy seas yesterday to give Alinghi match point in the best-of-nine series, Team New Zealand's NZL82 left to do battle with the super-confident Alinghi syndicate from Switzerland.
Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli could hardly contain his emotions as he waved to supporters in the harbour, some three hours away from a race that could be the final nail in a disastrous campaign from Team New Zealand.
Alinghi skipper Russell Coutts, on his 41st birthday, and tactician Brad Butterworth were booed with calls of "traitor".
"Money can't buy you friends Brad," one angry voice yelled at the Kiwi whose tactical brilliance has sunk the hopes of a nation which only a fortnight ago basked in a sense of invincibility.
Asked if Team New Zealand could win today, Angela Wood, of Auckland said: "What a question. They are going to win."
Another fan, Louise Murray, said Team New Zealand could win because of the lighter conditions in the Hauraki Gulf than the rough conditions of yesterday and race one a fortnight ago when Team New Zealand's boat did not finish.
If he wins Race Five, Coutts will break Dennis Conner's record of 13 race wins in the America's Cup and, in the process, take the event to Europe for the first time.
After the drama and shock of breaking their mast in Race 4 yesterday, Team New Zealand worked hard through the night to repair NZL82, which has been rigged with the mast from their backup boat NZL81.
Continuous coverage of today's America's Cup race will begin on nzherald.co.nz at 12.30pm.
