Team Alinghi became the third team to win one of the three 2004 Louis Vuitton Acts on Sunday, as a pair of top-three performances secured them the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 3 regatta on the last day of racing.

BMW Oracle Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand were the two race winners on Sunday, putting the Kiwis in second place for Act 3, with BMW Oracle Racing third overall.

Those results give the 2004 ACC Season Champion title to Emirates Team New Zealand, a remarkable recovery from their America’s Cup loss in 2003.

Team Alinghi was crowned the winner of Act 3 in front of an enormous crowd lining the waterfront at the Darsena Interior. Fireworks exploded overhead as the team was presented with their trophy and congratulated by the other race crews, along with a flotilla of spectator boats.

Emirates Team New Zealand was to be awarded their season champion prize later on Sunday evening.

It was another bright, sunny day on the Gulf of Valencia, and a large spectator fleet was out to follow the final races of the 2004 season. In the America’s Cup Park on shore over 200 000 people enjoyed the action over the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts, which were covered by 500 accredited media, among them 150 television crews.

It was a day of extremes on the race course. Both races were held to the South of the Port of Valencia due to an air show above the North race course.

Racing began in the first match in a light, offshore wind, which proved to be very patchy and inconsistent before dying completely and rebuilding in a different direction. The second race took place in a nice Southeasterly seabreeze of 10 to 14 knots.

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