Peter Burling, Skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling was a little stunned after winning the 37th America's Cup.
The New Zealanders beat Britannia by 37 seconds in race nine on Sunday morning to take the series 7-2.
It is a record third successive win for Team New Zealand and Burling.
"Today is still sinking in a little bit for me, but what a surreal feeling," Burling said after returning to dock.
"To know that we've now won the America's Cup again, and seeing the crowds cheering us on - it'll sink in a bit more when we lift the trophy."
Burling was first involved when Team New Zealand lifted the trophy in 2017 and then was on board when they defended it in Auckland in 2021.
The 33 year old former Olympic champion said all three Cup victories have been special and he couldn't distinguish between them.
"They're all just so incredibly different and every one is special for another reason.
"Every campaign seems to have little curves in the road, and to know we've now won the America's Cup again, the same outcome, it makes them hard to split.
Peter Burling, Team New Zealand skipper, high fives with fans in Barcelona. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The British got back into the regatta during the week by winning races five and six, and Burling feels the way Team New Zealand responded to that was significant.
"Putting down such a dominant performance (in race seven) - it really felt like the critics were starting to shout at us after getting off to such a strong start and then losing two in a row, but to really be able to stamp our authority from there was something I'm really proud of."
Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie conceded they were beaten by the better team.
"We knew coming into this just how tough Team New Zealand were going to be.
"They're an unbelievable organisation.
"We came through a really tough challenger series and we knew it was going to be a step up against the Kiwis and it really was. They sailed an amazing America's Cup and deserved the victory."
The British team had reached the final for the first time in 60 years by beating Italy in the Louis Vuitton challenger final last month.
There is no indication yet on when or where the next America's Cup will be.
