New Zealand Defeats USA in 2017 America's Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand steamrolled Oracle Team USA on Monday in Bermuda, 7-1, to win the 35th America's Cup and retake the title after 14 years.

The event's Twitter account showed the winning team in action:

"

Victory in race 9 goes to @EmiratesTeamNZ
Winners of the 35th America's Cup #ThereIsNoSecond #AmericasCup pic.twitter.com/mA9XKXcWXE

— America's Cup (@americascup) June 26, 2017"

They also showed the boisterous celebration that followed:

"

The oldest trophy in international sport has been officially handed over to @EmiratesTeamNZ! Kiwi fans in the crowd go wild. #AmericasCup pic.twitter.com/6jn9DPJun1

— America's Cup (@americascup) June 26, 2017"

"

When you win the oldest trophy in international sport, it calls for a #MoetMoment! Lots of emotion from @EmiratesTeamNZ on the water.   pic.twitter.com/R2HDcaF75T

— America's Cup (@americascup) June 26, 2017"

"A few years ago, it was absolutely brutal for the team, and it was a hard pill to swallow," New Zealand skipper Glenn Ashby said, recalling New Zealand blowing an 8-1 lead in the 2013 edition in San Francisco, per Christopher Clarey of the New York Times.

"For the sailors and all the other guys who are with the team, it is a great redemption, and I guess a relief to right the wrongs of the last campaign."

He added: "We obviously learned a lot from that campaign, and we put our best foot forward as best we could."

New Zealand trailed early in Monday's race but stormed back, finishing an impressive 55 seconds ahead of their American opponents. Peter Burling, just 26, became the youngest helmsman to win the America's Cup, according to Nick Vindin of the Guardian. 

"It is just unreal. It is exactly what we came here for," Burling said. "We are on top of the world. It has been three years of hard work. I don't think we would be out here without the heartbreak of San Francisco."

Ben Ainslie, a member of Britain's semifinal run last year and a tactician for the United States team that beat New Zealand in San Francisco, congratulated the Kiwis on their victory:

One factor that will likely be discussed until the next edition of the competition will be the decision to hold the event in Bermuda. As Clarey noted: "It was the first time in the 166-year history of the Cup that an American syndicate chose to defend the trophy outside the United States."

"We are disappointed," United States helmsman Jimmy Spithill said, per Vindin. "But full credit to team New Zealand. "They fully deserve it; hats off to them."

Per Clarey, New Zealand is expected to defend the Cup in Auckland.