Luna Rossa hangs on. The Italian challenge is still tied (3-3) with the big favorite and America’s Cup title holder, Team New Zealand, after Saturday’s races under blue skies and light winds in the bay of Auckland. Like Friday, Jimmy Spithill’s sailboat even had the luxury of taking the lead, winning the fifth round in Auckland harbor before seeing the New Zealanders return to the sixth.
A successful start remains the key to a successful race. With perfect timing in the pre-start maneuvers, Luna Rossa passed the first gate 22 seconds ahead in the fifth heat. An advantage which did not prevent them from remaining constantly under threat from the Kiwis: despite their favorable position, Luna Rossa’s skippers only finished the race with a 27-second lead.
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The New Zealanders responded in the next race, winning more clearly. A mistake by Luna Rossa gave them the advantage and passed the first gate with a 51-second lead. Peter Burling’s crew maneuvered without pressure to finish 1 minute 41 seconds behind on the Italian sailboat.
Unexpected scenario so much the Kiwis
“Happy to end another close day like this,” said Team New Zealand teammate Blair Tuke. “Obviously, the boat made the difference in terms of speed at the start, it’s nice. But we still have a lot of work to do, it’s a close battle,” he added. “We couldn’t bring the boat back to the line,” said Luna Rossa’s Jimmy Spithill of their failed start in the sixth round. “Almost the reverse of the first start,” he observed, comparing the course to a “minefield, especially at the start”.
The two crews remain neck and neck, as they have since the start of the prestigious regatta which will go to the first to seven victories.
An unexpected scenario as the Kiwis, winners three times (1995, 2000, 2017), seemed the big favorites against Luna Rossa who is playing it for the first time. If they win, the Italians would be only the second European team to win the Silver Ewer, after Swiss union Alinghi in 2003 and 2007.
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