By NICK STANLEY
New Zealand has became the first country to successfully defend the America's Cup outside the United States, as Team New Zealand completed a clean sweep over the Italian Prada Challenge today with a 48 sec victory in Race 5.
Rookie skipper Dean Barker continued where Russell Coutts left off,
after Coutts handed the wheel of NZL60 to his 26-year-old protege.
Barker showed his match-racing skill in winning the start over Francesco de Angelis by 12 sec. The Italians threw everything at the Kiwis during a close tacking duel on the first leg, but as the race progressed it became obvious that only a mistake or gear failure on NZL60 could have stopped Team New Zealand completing its historic victory.
The 15-20 knot southerly winds on the Hauraki Gulf gave both boats a chance to stretch out but the black boat again proved to have the edge and only gave ground to Luna Rossa on the first and last downwind legs.
At the halfway mark Team New Zealand had built up a 47 sec advantage and they extended that lead to 1:13 rounding the final mark.
Barker said it was "rad" to have skippered NZL60 for the final race, but was quick to play down his role in the Cup win.
"All the hard work's been done by Russell (Coutts), he did a fantastic job. A lot of the credit has to go to him and the whole team."
Until today, only the United States has successfully defended the America's Cup.
New Zealand is now gearing up for victory celebrations that should last long into the night.
