James Sptilhill, the Australian skipper of the America's Cup defender Oracle says Team New Zealand are now the favourites for the finals on San Francsico Bay.
The Cup defenders' programme was thrown into disarray when the International Jury imposed wide-ranging penalties on them for cheating, but Spithill believes his team will still be up to the challenge.
That sentiment was echoed by Team New Zealand's skipper Dean Barker who says the decision changes nothing for the challengers.
One of Oracle's penalties means they will have to win 11 races to win the Cup, two more than Team New Zealand's requirement for victory in the series.
