Alinghi's crew celebrate their historic victory See full photo gallery

Alinghi beat holders Team New Zealand in race five on Sunday to win the best-of-nine series 5-0.

The Swiss outfit led from start to finish in the six-leg, 18.5 nautical mile course in the Hauraki Gulf off Auckland.

After a succession of postponements due to the weather, conditions were ideal, with a steady 12 to 15-knot Northeasterly, blue sunny skies, and fair-weather cumulus clouds.

Alinghi produced another solid performance, winning the start, and converting that early advantage into a solid lead that they protected ferociously.

I am a New Zealander - make no bones about that - but I am immensely proud of what we have achieved with Alinghi Alinghi skipper Russell Coutts

After crossing the finish line 45 seconds in front of their rivals, the jubilant crew, led by syndicate chief Ernesto Bertarelli and former New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts, hugged and sprayed champagne.

The victory was a personal triumph for Coutts, who broke Dennis Conner's record of 13 America's Cup race victories.

Coutts' five wins this year added to the nine he earned with Team New Zealand in the 1995 and 2000 campaigns.

He has also now equalled the legendary Charlie Barr and Harold Vanderbilt by winning three consecutive America's Cups.

"It's been a lot of hard work for me and as a professional sailor, frankly I'm proud of what I've done," said Coutts.

Defeat in race five ended New Zealand's disastrous defence of the America's Cup.

They became the first team in the 152-year history of the America's Cup to fail to finish in two races thanks to gear failure in the opening race and a snapped mast in race four.

Alinghi's success has heightened speculation about where the next America's Cup will take place.