After making an art form of reading the weather in Bermuda, it was somewhat ironic that mother nature failed to come to the party for Team New Zealand's big welcome home.

But no amount of rain could dampen the mood amongst the team as they finally got to share their amazing America's Cup triumph with the public.

More 80,000 people braved the wet conditions and flooded downtown Auckland to pay tribute to Peter Burling and co, who captured the hearts and minds of the nation with an impressive display of skill and ingenuity to thump Oracle Team USA 7-1 and bring the Auld Mug back to New Zealand for the first time since 2003.