Team New Zealand thrashed Luna Rossa 5-0 yesterday to win the Louis Vuitton Cup and the opportunity to try to grab the America's Cup back from Swiss syndicate Alinghi.

Luna Rossa fought hard to stay in contention, catching up with the New Zealanders when they threw in a fake gybe on the first downwind leg and engaged in a long tacking duel back up to the top pin.

But time and again, Kiwi skipper Dean Barker sped up and pulled clear of the Italian challenge and on the final leg kept the advantage to cross the line 22 seconds ahead.

The result was a replay of the 2000 America's Cup when Team New Zealand brushed off then-debutants Luna Rossa 5-0 to win sailing's most prestigious prize for the second time.

Team New Zealand will now take on defender Alinghi for the America's Cup on June 23 in another best-of-nine showdown.

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