"You're next, you're next!"

It was high-spirited chanting from a large group of excited New Zealanders who had just witnessed (and celebrated) Team New Zealand's clean sweep of Luna Rossa in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

The chanting was, naturally, aimed at Alinghi as they sailed back to their base after the Cup presentation had been made to the New Zealand team.

It was exactly what New Zealand fans would do in any situation-make the most of the fact that the team they support had scored a significant victory, and then give their next opponents a bit of a hurry-up.

The New Zealand sailors on Alinghi would have anticipated it. They might possibly have felt a little uncomfortable with it- even envious- and certainly envious of the fantastic support which Team New Zealand has attracted here in Valencia.

But the New Zealanders here need to be careful not to overstep the mark. There is a danger that they could quickly be perceived as boorish, arrogant and downright rude if they go over the top.

Just the numbers of New Zealand fans who will be here for the America's Cup, and the noise they make when their team gets towed in or out of the port, will be enough to rattle the opposition.

There is no need to rev Alinghi up by dishing out obscenities to them. It would probably be more effective and unnerving to give them the silent treatment.

Ernesto Bertarelli and a few others within the Alinghi syndicate seem to believe that every New Zealander was a part of that dreadful Black Heart campaign of 2003. That achieved nothing but damage to our sporting reputation.

It's up to the New Zealand supporters who are going to be here in Valencia to prove to the doubters that we can be fully committed to our sports teams but at the same time exceptionally sporting to the opposition.

Other countries can do it and so can we.