Messages of support for the Kiwi team have rolled in since it lost by match point to Oracle Team USA in San Francisco, with Prime Minister John Key saying he was very proud and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen calling the loss ''gutting''.
But despite the support of New Zealanders at home and abroad, doubts remain about Emirates Team New Zealand's future because of the cost of mounting another challenge.
The Government is yet to decide whether to fund another challenge after stumping up $36 million for the most recent campaign, while Dalton, who indicated he would end his 10-year run with the team, was also uncertain about whether it would challenge again.
The 56-year-old has been head of Team New Zealand since the failed campaign in Auckland in 2003, and for some time was seen as a lucky charm when on board the team's AC72 catamaran.
''It's too early to say,'' Dalton said when asked if the team would challenge again.
''It will be quite difficult now. I always felt that it would be difficult for the team to stay together, particularly financially.''
Team NZ skipper Dean Barker was ashen in defeat, with his first words after the race: ''It's very hard to swallow.''
He said the team gave its all.
''We left nothing on the table. We knew that we had a fight on our hands upwind; sailing a boat that fast is hard to swallow.''
Barker said he was incredibly proud of the team and what it had achieved.
''I am gutted we didn't get the last win we needed to take this cup back to New Zealand.''
Mr Key said the loss was ''gut-wrenching'' but he believed there would be a lot of pride in New Zealand about the way the team had conducted itself.
He said decisions were yet to be made about whether the Government would fund another campaign or to try to ensure Team NZ could retain key people.
However, he indicated it was likely, and hoped to discuss whether another campaign was possible. It was too early to have those discussions, and Team NZ would want to regroup and think about its next steps first.
Mr Key said he believed the $36 million pumped into the campaign was well spent, but it was not just about what the Government was willing to do.
''There's a lot of things you have to consider before you put taxpayers' money on the line.''
