The look of sheer relief on Ashby’s face after Team New Zealand’s series-clinching win over Team USA said it all.

Four years after the most disappointing moment in his sailing career, Ashby earned redemption as he guided the Kiwis to victory.

"A few years ago, it was absolutely brutal for the team," Ashby said of Team New Zealand’s stunning defeat after it had led the 2013 series 8-1.

"It was a hard pill to swallow. For myself and a lot of the other guys with the team this time round, it is a great redemption and a relief to right the wrongs of the last campaign."

Ashby, 39, was skipper and trimmer for Team NZ.

He was the only member of the 2013 crew to retain his place in the team for 2017.

"It's absolutely been an amazing journey for us as a team and personally that feeling of relief, I guess, right at the moment and immense satisfaction as a fantastic group of people and fantastic team," Ashby said.

"We've been able to pull off almost the unimaginable against all odds ... from a few years ago, regrouping, getting over here late, scrambling and still managing to pull it off. It's an absolutely unbelievable feeling."

Ashby’s America’s Cup triumph proudly sits alongside an incredible 16 world championships and an Olympic silver medal.

Not bad for someone who took up sailing at Lake Eppalock as a 10-year-old.

Glenn’s parents John and Lyn watched the America’s Cup on television from their Eppalock home.

“It was a huge sense of relief for us, particularly after what happened in 2013,’’ John said.

“We tried not to get too excited this series in case Team USA turned things around.

“Once we saw them cross the finish line this morning we felt so proud for Glenn because we know how absolutely devastated he was after the defeat in 2013.

“To have that happen again would have just about finished him off.

“They’ve worked so hard to get back there and to win it this time would be hugely satisfying for him.

“As a parent, that translates to us as well.”

In a bid to achieve his America’s Cup dream, Glenn, his wife Mel and their two daughters have basically lived 11 months of the year in New Zealand for the past six years.

They have a house in McCrae on the Mornington-Peninsula that they get back to for the Christmas holiday period.

“I’m not sure what the future holds for Glenn now, but I’d imagine Team New Zealand would like to keep him for the defence of the America’s Cup in four years,’’ John said.

“We haven’t discussed the future with him… the focus has been all about winning this time around.”

For now, Glenn will return to Auckland where the NZ government is planning a ticker tape parade next week to honour the America’s Cup-winning team.