KEY POINTS:
TEAM NEW ZEALAND
Key victory: That comprehensive, 1min 34sec win against Chris Dickson's BMW Oracle Racing in the final race of round robin two. The Kiwis were clearly out to make a statement and they did.
Scary moment: Their race-one loss to Mascalzone Latino and that strange
old start against Victory Challenge. Team New Zealand fought back impressively to claim a comfortable 34s victory over the Swedes.
Most experienced sailor: Mainsheet trimmer Don Cowie (6 campaigns)
Number of wins in series so far: 22/27. Losses were to Mascalzone Latino, Luna Rossa and Oracle in round one and two to Desafio Espanol in the semifinals.
Best Dean Barker moment: During the semifinals the Team New Zealand skipper left the Spanish for dead twice. In race four, entering the pre-start on the disadvantaged port side, Barker turned inside the Spanish in the dial-up and seized the right, nullifying the starboard entry advantage. But rather than starting on the right, Barker then got a hook on his opponent by slipping his bow underneath the Spanish transom - forcing them to tack away. It was a masterly display of boat handling and judgment. In the seventh and final race of the semifinals, you could almost feel sorry for Barker's opponent, Spanish helmsman Karol Jablonksi, who found himself completely boxed out and forced to cross the line 14 seconds behind the black boat.
Best crew performance: Growing up sailing their P-class yachts at home, the sailors in Team New Zealand are well used to big seas and howling winds, and it showed in their final race against the Spanish. Another notable race was their round-two match against Luna Rossa where their composure, flawlessness and fitness shone through.
Boat breakdown: Aside from a few spinnaker tears, which have perhaps been the result of using old sails in an effort to save new ones, Team New Zealand have not broken anything which has affected their performance. But remember it was at Grant Dalton's insistence that NZL84 be flipped on her side in the Hauraki Gulf to see what broke.
Going into the final: The series against the Spanish has set the Kiwis in good stead. Desafio Espanol helmsman Jablonski challenged them in the pre-start and with little separating the boats in terms of speed, Team New Zealand had to sail well to win. The losses also showed they have the ability to fight back and not strain under the pressure.
LUNA ROSSA
Key victory: Luna Rossa's 5-1 series win over BMW Oracle Racing has been a huge boost for the team but the key match in that series was perhaps race three where they nailed Dickson in the start and sailed a smart and conservative race to win comfortably.
Afterwards, Spithill commented: "I'm feeling pretty comfortable just because I've got confidence in the guys. When you've got that kind of belief it gives you that extra boost in yourself. The guys have pretty much said to me, 'Put the boat wherever you need to and the sails will be there' and they have delivered."
Scary moment: The horror 24 hours of April 24 when they lost to South Africa's Shosholoza and then to Oracle. They also were lucky to escape with a win over Mascalzone Latino in round one, trailing their fellow countrymen for the first lap of the course.
Most experienced sailor: New Zealand grinder Andrew Taylor (6 campaigns).
Number of wins in series so far: 21/26. Their losses were to Shosholoza and Oracle in round one and Oracle and Team New Zealand in round two. They also lost once to Oracle in the semis.
Best James Spithill moment: Race five of the semifinals against Chris Dickson where he forced not one but two penalties on the flailing skipper.
Best crew performance: Throughout the semis, the Italians were super slick around the track. What was most impressive was their faith in each other and in particular Brazilian tactician Torben Grael who relies a lot on instinct.
Boat breakdown: Like Team New Zealand Luna Rossa have yet to suffer any real hardware damage.
Going into the final: Luna Rossa are clearly on a roll. They completely outclassed Oracle in the semifinals with their sailing ability. How they react when and if that momentum is broken is the question. You get the feeling it will be difficult to rattle their Australian helmsman.
