Team NZ flew Alinghi but aware that the defenders still have a new boat to launch.

The team were cool about their win, pointing out that they were racing the new boat they will sail next year while Alinghi were still in the one they used at the last America's Cup.

"This isn't anything other than a measure of where we are right now, but next year we're going to need to be better", said Terry Hutchinson.

"It would be a huge mistake to look much beyond the fact that we beat a guy in a three-year-old tub - and barely - while he has a new boat sitting in the shed."