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Team NZ prepare for the practice race - Source: photosport -
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How fickle can it get? Too little wind for racing one day and too much the next, the combination ending Emirates Team New Zealand's chances of adding the Cagliari regatta trophy to the series title they'd secured three days ahead of schedule.
At least the Kiwis managed third place in the only race of the final day. That was enough to give them third spot in this regatta and the consolation of being on the podium for both prize-giving ceremonies.
The disappointment was seeing ETNZ finally getting the conditions in which they thrive without enough time or races to climb up the scoreboard.
On the first downwind leg, with the Mistral pumping past 25 knots, NZL 380 was absolutely flying , the technicians and directors in the TV control room echoing the shouts of incredulous excitement coming from the commentary box - and indeed anyone watching the screens - as waves swept over the decks at phenomenal speed.
It was a stunning swansong from the Kiwis who celebrated being the first team in AudiMedCup history to score back to back titles by having a last high-speed blast on their champion TP52 after racing had been called off. There was an element of pay-back here, the boss of Emirates airline, Gary Chapman, invited on board to experience some on-the-edge sailing which concluded with the explosion of two spinnakers.
The soaking at sea was followed by a champagne shower held over from Wednesday when the series title was in the bag. Time to celebrate.
The aim of ETNZ entering the AudiMedCup circuit was to keep the whole team together and the whole team developing on the road to another America's Cup.
And as well as advancing the skills of the sailors, designers, builders, sailmakers and riggers, the Kiwis' performance on the world's leading regatta circuit has again boosted the Emirates Team New Zealand brand as a world leader.
For managing director Grant Dalton, the AudiMedCup has been invaluable :"It's helped to build the team, galvanised the team. It's helped the brand. As it's turned out it's made employing people for the next America's Cup easier because they are attracted to the brand.
"It's been good for the sponsor. It's kept the team in front of the public. It's done really more than we could ever have expected. And we won. That helps," says Dalton with a satisfied smile.
ETNZ's final monohull regatta is the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Dubai in November before the move into multis on the road to the America's Cup.
