Hundreds, if not thousands, of people crawled out of the warmth of their beds to show their support for Tauranga's own Peter Burling, as he headed into the final race of the 35th America's Cup.
A big screen along The Strand saw crowds gather to watch the winning race.
The Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club was also packed to the rafters with people watching the race with pride.
Emirates Team New Zealand beat Oracle 7-1 to claim the cup in Bermuda this morning.
Burling's old sailing coach at Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club says Burling, a Tauranga boy, was always destined for great things.
"He was always a competitive kid. He's always been able to look at water differently. He'll pick something out of the water and say this is my patch."
Burling is the youngest helmsman to race at the America's Cup but he was always ahead of his curve from a young age, says Mark Smith.
Vice commodore Andy Knowles says he was racing at an advanced level his whole life and this is due to his hard work on and off the water.
That's a team that worked hard for #NewZealand . It's coming home! #NewZealandsCup #ETNZ pic.twitter.com/JcMEdMpcps
— EmiratesTeamNZ (@EmiratesTeamNZ) June 26, 2017
"He was here training every day. We are very proud of him to say the least."
Prime Minister Bill English has congratulated Emirates Team New Zealand on the Kiwi leadership, teamwork, and technological brilliance that enabled it to regain the America's Cup.
Team NZ won the first of two races scheduled in Bermuda this morning to defeat Oracle Team USA 7-1 in the first-to-seven series
'I would like to congratulate chief executive Grant Dalton, helmsman Peter Burling, skipper Glen Ashby and the rest of the team, both on the boat and on shore.
'They have done an amazing job to beat formidable opposition.
'The crewmanship aboard Team NZ has been outstanding and the innovative use of pedal power to drive the hydraulics on the New Zealand boat has showcased Kiwi ingenuity to the world.”
Bill says officials will talk to the Auckland City Council this morning about an appropriate way to recognise the team's victory.
6 comments
Congratulations Peter Burling and Team NZ
Posted on 27-06-2017 07:52 | By Catherine Stewart
Tauranga is very proud of Peter Burling and crew on Team NZ. Well Done to all concerned! We are thrilled and can't wait to celebrate with you in Tauranga. Catherine Stewart
A great contribution to our nation
Posted on 27-06-2017 09:09 | By Papamoaner
As a person who doesn't follow competitive sport, I acknowledge the huge contribution these sailors and the All Blacks make to our country's international standing. Who wouldn't? Congratulations to you all.
Don't forget the rest
Posted on 27-06-2017 09:34 | By rosbo
Don't forget the designers and builders who put the whole thing together in the first place. Their skill in innovative thinking and putting things together gave Peter Burling and his crew the machine which they handled so brilliantly
TEAM!
Posted on 27-06-2017 12:43 | By penguin
Congratulations to all involved in this event. It reinforces the concept of TEAM! Special congratulations to Peter Burling who shows so many positive attitudes as a young man. He is a fantastic role model for other young people to aspire to!! And of course he comes from Tauranga...
Learn to be gracious in defeat
Posted on 27-06-2017 13:28 | By maildrop
Well deserved win. I thought Spithill was very gracious, as was Sir Ben Ainslie. NZ could learn from these two greats, that when defeated the ONLY thing you need to do is congratulate the victors. Not desperately search for a Kiwi connection in order to take the gloss off. Your response to defeat is every bit as important as celebrating a win.
Name change?
Posted on 27-06-2017 14:36 | By peecee09
How about TAURANGA becomes BURLINGTON. If only for a month or so to recognise this amazing achievement.
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