America's Cup quest ends for Emirates Team New Zealand

by Lou Newlands on 27 Sep 2013 Nestlé Nespresso S.A. is a proud sponsor of Emirates Team New Zealand and still stands proud of all the New Zealand team has achieved despite their defeat in the 34th America’s Cup Final yesterday (Wednesday, 25th September) on the waters of San Francisco Bay.

Skipper Dean Barker and the crew of Emirates Team New Zealand had the 34th America’s Cup within their grasp only to see their challenge evaporate as the American defender, Oracle Tema USA, forced a final race showdown and won, to keep the oldest trophy in international sport in the USA.

History has shown that the America’s Cup is without a doubt the most difficult trophy in sport to win, taking into account the choice of equipment, the natural environment that is its stadium, combined with a historical bias to favour the defending champion to name the ‘time and the place’. In the 162 year history of the America’s Cup, only four nations have won – America, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. New Zealand, under the mantle of Sir Peter Blake, became the first nation outside of America to win the Cup in 1995 and then successfully defending in 2000.

'Nespresso is immensely proud of all that Emirates Team New Zealand has achieved in the 34th America’s Cup,' commented Stéphane Detaille, Int’l Sponsoring and Events Manager, Nespresso. 'It has been a long and challenging road for a team who mounted one of the most credible Challenger campaigns in recent times, comprehensively winning the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series and taking on the Defender Oracle Team USA in the final.

The team led by Grant Dalton, CEO and Dean Barker have shown the very highest level of professionalism, integrity, drawn on their wealth of experience when it was most needed and remained steadfast as a team. As a sponsor of Emirates Team New Zealand we could not be prouder of what they have achieved. They have set a true example of what it means to work as team, to seek perfection through innovation and determination against the odds.'

San Francisco, hosting the America’s Cup for the first time, provided the perfect backdrop to showcase this legendary event and allowed Nespresso, as the Official Coffee to the 34th America’s Cup, to create multiple brand and product experiences throughout the Louis Vuitton Cup, the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup and the 34th America’s Cup Final.

The 34th America’s Cup has added another indelible chapter to the rich history of this event and will be remembered for showcasing one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history. This edition of the Cup became the longest in its history and is only the third time the America’s Cup Final has gone to the wire with a winner take all final race.

The 34th America’s Cup Final began on the 7th September with Emirates Team New Zealand proving to be the dominant force building a lead of 4-0 after three days of racing. Oracle Team USA played their ‘postponement’ card on the 11th September to regroup and make some improvements to their AC72 catamaran. By the 18th September the Kiwi team had an 8-1 advantage and needed to win just one more race for victory but the USA team got another point on the scoreboard the following day.

Race number 13, staged in unusual light and shifty conditions on the 20th September, saw Emirates Team New Zealand come within one nautical mile of winning the 34th America’s Cup to only fall foul to the 40-minute race time limit. Race 13 was re-sailed and won by the Americans, and from that point on Oracle Team USA turbo-charged their way to the final race showdown, winning the remaining six races to secure the Cup.