New Zealanders and Italians are still tied (2-2) at the end of the second day of the America’s Cup. Once again, the departures proved to be decisive on Friday in Auckland.
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Cthis time it was the Italians who fired the first shots in the Gulf of Hauraki. As the two boats had crossed the line practically together, Jimmy Spithill (Luna Rossa) carried out a first maneuver which had the effect of putting Team New Zealand downwind, enough to take an advantage that the Kiwis never had. able to recover, to finally cross the finish line 37 seconds behind the Italians (1-2).
“We had our plan, and we carried it out perfectly while remaining very calm”, rejoiced Francesco Bruni, the other helmsman of the Italian boat. “As soon as Jimmy saw the opportunity, he grabbed it, and then everything went well. “
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“The slightest mistake pays cash”
The scenario was appreciably reversed in the second regatta of the day, where the two boats each took their way shortly after take-off (TNZ had crossed the line with a slight advantage), until the second buoy. There, the Italians completely missed the time of the change of foil, and definitively lost contact with New Zealanders who gave them more than a minute advance (1min03) on the finish line!
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“We are happy to have been able to restore the balance, but above all happy with our performance over the whole day”, summed up Peter Burling, the coxswain of Team New Zealand, while suggesting that with high performance boats. so close, departures would continue to weigh heavily in the balance, and that the slightest mistake would pay for itself!
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Verdict Monday at the earliest
Next regattas (5 and 6): Saturday morning, then the following ones will follow each other from now on day after day, until the moment when the first of the two boats will arrive at the 7 victories, which will not be able to arrive from now on until Monday, at best.
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