It's Emirates Team New Zealand who will attempt to dethrone the American defender from his trophy Oracle Team USA . The kiwis beat the Swedes of Artemis Racing in the final of the challengers, whose final rounds took place on Monday 12th June 2017, by 5-2.
The New Zealanders will be able to take their revenge on the Americans. In 2013, in San Francisco, the skipper of Oracle Team USA, Jimmy Spithill, had with his team one of the most spectacular comebacks in the history of the sport, going from a score of 1-8 in favour of Emirates Team New Zealand to 9-8 for victory. But Peter Burling was not yet on the team. In fact the only "remnant" of the former team was Glenn Ashby, wing trimmer and skipper. An experience that doesn't seem to terrify the New Zealanders.
"I think the San Francisco experience has made us stronger." said Ashby at the post-race press conference. "The team has been rebuilt from scratch and is now stronger than the one we had before. We are more motivated than ever to move forward."
"We believe we can beat Oracle Team USA." said Burling just after crossing the finish line. " Artemis Racing has been an incredible opponent. They pushed us incredibly hard... and got us in shape for the Cup."
Emirates Team New Zealand was able to collect the inaugural Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs Trophy from Grant Gibbons, Minister for Economic Affairs and Development at the awards ceremony in the America's Cup .
