America’s Cup 2021: ‘Hard Boat to Beat’ – Global media reacts to Team New Zealand’s impressive performance in practice races

Nerves appear to be building abroad as the New Zealand team impressed at America’s Cup practice races on Thursday.

Peter Burling had the advantage over Jimmy Spithill and Luna Rossa in all three tests in windy conditions yesterday, as the Kiwi boat showed good speed in a straight line and was confident in its maneuvers.

READ MORE: In pictures: Burling defeats Spithill, as concern grows for the great rival of the Copa América

The first signs of Team NZ’s promising form were seen in the reaction of the Italian media during the second day of boat-to-boat action.

Erik Nicolaysen of the Italian website OA Sport analyzed that Team NZ showed “smooth maneuvers and an excellent combination of control and speed even in the strongest wind conditions.”

“It is still too early to draw conclusions, but the defender seems to have a very competitive boat that is difficult to beat in the Copa América.”

He pointed out the different setups between the two AC75s and said Luna Rossa completed yesterday’s test with a smaller bow.

“Once again it is Te Rehutai who impresses in the tests against Luna Rossa,” reports another Italian sailing website, Farevela.

“The kiwis showed control and speed even in these stronger than average wind conditions on the first day of the practice race … always fluid.”

Farevela also pointed to Team NZ’s more aggressive approach to developing their boat.

“One of the biggest differences can be seen in the much more recessed position of the Kiwi crew, whose helmets barely come off the deck, compared to the men on the Luna Rossa. All to improve the aerodynamics of the deck.”

However, Richard Gladwell of Sail-World NZ cautions not to read too much about practice races in a report entitled “When will children’s gloves be removed?”

Gladwell even suggested that the Challenger of Record might have decided to “hang on a bit and make the kiwis look good.”

“We have never read much about invitation races, which are held for competitors and officials to test before the start of the Main Event,” he wrote.

“The last two days of practice races in the America’s Cup World Series preliminary look like typical invitation races.

“ETNZ rounds the top mark ahead and is about 30 seconds ahead at the bottom. Are those margins real, or did the Italians button up shortly after the start of the first beat? Or is Te Rehutai the” super-boat “?”

Meanwhile, two of the other challengers, INEOS Team UK and American Magic, failed to lead in the second practice races, and the British team missed the opening practice session on Tuesday after taking damage, while the Americans grappled. with unspecified problems after a promising run in the first. session.

A UK report said they were “nervous times” for the British.

“Nervous times for British fans as the two missed practice days seem to indicate unsolved problems for the Ineos team,” wrote Gerald New on the British website Sailweb.

“This was the second day lost for the British, who retired with a broken main halyard on the first day, but as that would have been a simple solution, the reason for their no-show on Thursday is unknown.”

New added that Team NZ “continues to look like the best prepared team at this stage.”