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The race into Auckland always brings out the best in Kiwis yearning to hear their names chanted by local crowds, who flock to the finish, regardless of time or weather.

And so it was in this leg as Dalton and Dickson enjoyed a battle royale for New Zealand honours. Conner was effectively ruled out of contention when he made a high risk tactical move south to find more favourable winds. A short term blast was followed by days of snail pace momentum and Winston lagged well behind by the time Dickson, in his W60 Tokio, and Dalton, in the maxi New Zealand Endeavour made their dramatic entrance into the harbour. They were neck and neck, quite literally, but as they edged their way closer to the line, Dickson stalled. One could almost hear the gasps of horror as this nail-biting denouement was played out and the look of grim determination on Dalton’s face as he overtook and heaved across the line was enough to prompt a surly, ungracious comment from his opponent in a television interview. From that point, it was Dalton who held all the cards, not just in the race but in the nation’s affections.