America’s Cup: Brits finally sail as New Zealand team flexes muscles

Britain’s America’s Cup campaign got back on track Tuesday, albeit at a slow pace as the New Zealand team’s defenders continued to show their muscles.

After missing the first four days of practice, Sir Ben Ainslie’s Britannia finally made a start in the Hauraki Gulf during a session at Camp A again, off the East Coast area of ​​Auckland.

And they started, with Ainslie using her undoubted skills to outmaneuver Dean Barker on American Magic from the starting line in his official practice run.

But that was for the best with American Magic using superior speed to quickly overtake the British and see a comfortable victory.

READ MORE:
* America’s Cup: Event Village opens like an expected audience magnet
* America’s Cup: The worrying threat to the world series regatta
* America’s Cup: double disappointment for the British in practice races

The Americans have looked solid during the training sessions, and they were clearly one click above INEOS Team UK.

Defenders Emirates Team New Zealand finally managed to line up against record challenger Luna Rossa in another practice pair after a couple of setbacks.

It was initially delayed by the mild winds that have hit Auckland for the past two days.

When she was finally summoned, Luna Rossa did not start and the race was abandoned.

But they met shortly after 5pm and the New Zealand team claimed victory.

December is the only month that the New Zealand team will compete against rivals before the America’s Cup match next March and the Kiwi champion team is determined to make the most of it.

After watching two races against the British turn to nothing on Monday, claiming a win over the Italians was another good sign for the New Zealand team’s new boat, Te Rehutai.

Tuesday was a historic day for the regatta. The Cup Village was officially opened and marked the end of the official practice sessions under the direction of Race Director Iain Murray.

The skippers face the media Wednesday morning ahead of Thursday’s first races in the world series and the Christmas Cup regatta that runs through Sunday.