WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — For thousands of New Zealanders who four years ago watched their sailing team crumble from a seemingly unbeatable position, a win in the America’s Cup brought as much relief as it did elation.
Emirates Team New Zealand clinched a 7-1 victory over Oracle Team USA, winning back a trophy the South Pacific nation last held a decade ago and helping erase memories of the team’s catastrophic 9-8 defeat against Oracle in 2013 in a match they once led 8-1.
Across the country, people set their alarms for 5 a.m. Tuesday to watch the racing in Bermuda.
While sailing remains a niche sport in many countries, in New Zealand it’s become mainstream thanks to the nation’s long stretches of coastline, strong winds and the people’s love for water sports.
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