KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton says the black boat will not change, and "hopefully" the sailors will step up a gear in the challenger series final.
Emirates Team NZ will race NZL92 in the best of the nine-race final against Luna Rossa, starting in Valencia on
Saturday morning (NZT).
Nothing had been changed on NZL92 since the 5-2 win over Desafio Espanol in the semifinals, Dalton said.
"We have decided to keep the boat the same. That is a decision as opposed to we don't know what to do next," he said.
"Are we going to be the same as the team that raced the Spanish? Yes ostensively from a boat point we are. Hopefully, team-wise we'll continue to step up."
Since their semifinal win, Team NZ have had three days off and sailed three days. They will now work through to race one of the final. It is believed part of that preparation included a race against defenders Alinghi overnight.
They have worked on squeezing a little more speed out of their NZL92, on manoeuvres - gybes in particular - and starting.
Skipper Dean Barker said being able to focus on one opponent's style made things a little easier.
"We have been looking at that and how we can react against them in the starts.
"I have raced James [Spithill] a lot in the last few years on the match racing circuit, we have had a lot of success against them and they have beaten us a few times as well. I think it is pretty even between the two teams.
"We are not daunted by racing against them at all. We are more excited about going out and having some good racing because it is a good team and we have had some good races against them over the years."
Barker said his team's two losses to the Spanish in the semifinals perhaps worked in his team's favour.
With little separating the boats in this regatta, a lot has been made of team chemistry and, in particular, being able to bounce back from losses.
"We have worked hard on trying to maintain a steady emphasis or attitude throughout the team," Barker said.
"We try not to celebrate our wins too much but, at the same time, don't dwell on our losses.
"It is always hard losing races ... the competitive streak [runs through] all the team, we want to go out and win every race. If we could, we would but it is not that easy."
Barker said the difference between the two sides in the final would be small with match-racing skills the decisive factor.
"It is going to come down to who can do 100 little things better, not miss the one or two little things the other team does better.
"As the boats become more even, you can't rely on speed to win you all the races. You have to sail like you would in a match racing regatta and go out and beat them in match racing."
When asked whether he was feeling confident, Dalton said he did not think of it that way.
"I have faith in the guys, I can't really influence the outcome. The guys on board can. I just pull them [the sails] up and pull them down. I think of it in terms of another day."
Alinghi reportedly broke down for the second time in a week yesterday.
They would not comment but are believed to have broken a rudder. It is also understood they suffered gear failure last week.
On both occasions it was relatively windy.