For once, the America's Cup is looking like a real contest.
A surprise come-from-behind win by Emirates Team New Zealand over seemingly unbeatable Swiss defender Alinghi on Sunday evened the score to 1-1 in the best-of-nine series. It also ended a string of one-sided blowouts to once again give the quest for the Auld Mug a sense of uncertainty.
It is the first time since 1992 -- four campaigns past -- that the America's Cup will not be a sweep.
New Zealand's win also snapped Alinghi's six-race winning streak, dating back to its 5-0 victory over the Kiwis in 2003.
"It's been a long time coming to turn the tables," New Zealand's strategist Ray Davies said about the rematch from four years ago. "It's been huge for the team to get a win on the board."
New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, 34, finally got the better of former teammate Brad Butterworth, the Alinghi skipper and also ended Butterworth's record of 16 straight cup wins, starting as tactician in the Kiwi's successful 1995 campaign.
"I'll get over it," Butterworth said about his first cup loss in 12 years.
The Alinghi team was formed in 2000 by Swiss biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, who recruited heavily from the Kiwis' cup winners, including Butterworth, to win the Auld Mug in 2003, sparking fury in New Zealand.
For Kiwi John Boscawen, 50, who flew in from Auckland on Friday to watch the races, revenge was sweet.
"It was absolutely fantastic," he said. "Dean Barker has been beaten six times by our own countrymen. Winning this time must be a huge psychological boost."
In the race, New Zealand got a three-second lead at the start, but Alinghi's fast new boat SUI100 quickly passed the Kiwis and built a 19-second lead.
Alinghi stayed ahead, making it look all but certain that the Swiss would take the day and move ahead to 2-0, possibly setting up a fifth straight sweep of the Cup.
But the Kiwis would have none of it.
New Zealand cut Alinghi's lead to 13 seconds around the second mark and gained up the left side of the course on the third leg.
"When we came back together again ... we just didn't put the boat in the right place," Butterworth said. "We should have tacked closer."
Emirates Team New Zealand pushed ahead of Alinghi and had the advantage around the final marker, leading through the final lap to win by 28 seconds.
"It was Alinghi's first defeat in the America's Cup and I hope it will be the last," said Bertarelli, an afterguard sailor for Alinghi.
Winds were light in Saturday's race and appeared to ease toward the end. The Kiwis' boats are known for being fast in light winds, while Alinghi seems faster in stronger breezes.
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