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Team Alinghi has successfully defended the America’s Cup by defeating Emirates Team New Zealand by one second - the closest margin ever - on Race 7. So, Team Alinghi defeated Team Emirates New Zealand 5 – 2. The Aug Mug trophy stays with Team Alinghi at the the Société Nautique de Genève, Switzerland for at least until 2009.For now, the results stand at America won 27 times and the rest of the world 5 times. The most significant point is that the rest of the world won it the 5 times. Australia started momentum when its yacht, Kookabura III, won it in 1987, Team New Zealand won it with Black Magic on 1995 and 2000, and Team Alingi on 2004 and 2007.

Team Alinghi is a team from Switzerland, which is a landlocked country in central Europe. If a country such as Switzerland is able to set up a team to win the America’s Cup with sailors from 7 countries. There are only 2 sailors from the home country. Can we expect the 33rd edition of America’s Cup to be more exciting with more money pouring in to bring on the best sailors around the world to sail the winning yacht? 

If a winning yacht is all about funding to have access to the best sailing yacht, sailors and technologies. Does this mean that only teams with deepest pockets can continue winning the America’s Cup? Long term, will this mean it will lead to the same path of Formula One racing where the number of teams racing will dwindle and the same team keeps winning.

The 32nd edition of America’s Cup in 2007 has started a new trend of bidding to host the America’s Cup since Switzerland does not have any coastal line. The host for 2007 was Valencia in Spain is expecting to gain huge return interm of economic boost from tourism. How much economic gains has Valencia benefited from hosting the America’s Cup is not known yet. But the glamour, attention and recogniton are there. It brought is thousands of the rich and famous to witness one of the most glamorous yacht races in the world. Valencia is expecting America’s Cup to do what 1992 Olympics has done for Barcelona.

The bidding for the 33rd edition of America’s Cup is not up yet. But the amount of dollars or Euros to be spent hosting this event will be tremendous.