The America's Cup is home: Team New Zealand arrive in Auckland with the Auld Mug
Team NZ skipper Glenn Ashby, boss Grant Dalton and helmsman Peter Burling lift the Americas Cup at Auckland Airport. The Americas Cup is home again with Team New Zealand arriving in Auckland on Wednesday morning carrying the Auld Mug.
Hundreds of fans gathered at Auckland Airport for the teams arrival with many bearing banners congratulating the team on their reclaiming of the Cup after it was lost in 2003 when Team New Zealand were beaten by Alinghi.
After clearing customs and entering the arrivals hall at Auckland Airport, a powhiri was held for Team New Zealand before a small presentation where helmsman Peter Burling commented he wasnt thinking too far ahead, were just enjoying this moment.
Glenn Ashby, Grant Dalton and Peter Burling of Team New Zealand carry the Americas Cup through customs at Auckland Airport.
Thank you for all the support, it means the world to us and being a proud Kiwi, growing up here and watching teams race for the Americas Cup and then to actually bring the Cup home is something that has blown us away, Burling said.
Burling said it was a relief to finally get the Cup home. Thats been on the back of our mind, trying to get it back here and working super hard on that for the last three years, Burling said.
I know most of us havent had a day off for as long as we can remember. Were just enjoying this moment for the time being and were going to enjoy it with all you guys over the next three days..
Auckland parade details for the Americas Cup celebrations to be held on July 6.
The Cups return comes after three failed Team New Zealand campaigns before the success in Bermuda where the Kiwi boat beat Oracle Team USA 7-1 to reclaim it.
The Cups arrival in Auckland was its first to New Zealand since being won by Team New Zealand in the US city of San Diego in 1995 and flown in on May 24 of that year.
It was greeted with rapturous applause in 1995 as Sir Peter Blake and Sir Russell Coutts carried it off the plane.
Back to the present, and fans who made the effort to greet the team at Auckland Airport were rewarded with the chance to reach out and touch the Auld Mug.
Among the crowd was Jules Ana, who snapped a selfie with the Cup in the background. With a beaming smile she said she had waited weeks to lay her eyes on the Cup.
This is the moment for Kiwis around the country to sit back and enjoy, Ana said. Speaking at Auckland Airport, Team New Zealand skipper Glenn Ashby said the win was for all of New Zealand.
Team New Zealand receives a water salute as they land in Auckland.
Its largely redemption, for the whole team and the country from San Francisco, Ashby said, remembering the failed 2013 challenge where Team New Zealand suffered the ignominy of losing in one of sports greatest comeback victories.
The group of guys we went through this journey with are an absolutely special set of people and to have them all standing here with me now is a wonderful feeling. Im very, very proud and feeling of great satisfaction..
Ashby was the sole surviving member of the shipboard crew for Team New Zealand from the 2013 challenge.
Team NZ boss Grant Dalton spoke at the airport, thanking fans for their support and expressing the pride the team had in bringing the Cup back to New Zealand.
There have been a lot of emotions since we won it just over a week ago now, Dalton said.
In the end the overriding emotion has been to get home as quick as we can to see everybody. All the people that have come out today, its unbelievable, thank you very much.
Were told its not going to rain tomorrow for the parade. Honestly its fantastic to be home, we just so proud of being New Zealanders and what team has done. Immensely proud and grateful to be part of such an amazing team.
Really until we won it and effectively stole it and walked away with it after the press conference, Id never been within 50m of it, didnt think Id earned that right. An overwhelming sense of pride, Dalton said.
Team NZ boss Grant Dalton says there is an overwhelming feeling of pride to have brought the Americas Cup back to New Zealand.
This is a special bunch of guys. That saying, I remember when we had the meeting and said we were going to throw ball as far as we can.
As Ernest Rutherford sad, well never outspend them, we got to out-think them and that was our whole philosophy. We just stuck to that with the right bunch of guys that could do it..
Team New Zealand were flown home from Bermuda by principal sponsor Emirates Airlines. The teams flight home included a stop in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where they met with airline officials, showing them the trophy and celebrating the regatta win.
The Cup was being carried in a custom Louis Vuitton carry case and strapped in to first class seats, as revealed by commentator PJ Montgomery.
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