America’s Cup 2021: how Luna Rossa plans to fight to return to the Cup clash against the New Zealand team

The America’s Cup is all about meters, and Luna Rossa will have at least one more night to try and find them.

The challenger is on the wrong end of match point as he attempts to take the Auld Mug away from the New Zealand team after losing today’s only race.

In the most exciting race of the series so far, the teams exchanged leaders before the New Zealand team finally secured the final pass on the penultimate stage and sailed for their sixth best-of-13 series win.

With the second race of the day announced due to changing wind conditions and the race committee running out of time to adjust the course, Luna Rossa is returning to the sheds now in winning territory or heading home.

The Italians have constantly looked for ways to improve their boat’s performance, and they have done so throughout the season. And despite the added pressure on the scoreboard, Bruni told the Herald that nothing would change for his team between the way they approach time between race days.

“The ship can always go faster. Every day it’s the same story: we go back and look at the data, we look at the video and we see where we can gain meters,” Bruni said.

“It’s about a few meters, and we can definitely always get a few more. We will keep doing what we’ve been doing so far: keep trying to improve.

While the Italians remain confident and excited about the race ahead, the end of today’s race was disappointing as one mistake led to defeat.

While the race was closed, Luna Rossa drove through the first four doors. In the fifth stage, they had the opportunity to take the right side of the field, but believed that conditions would be better on the left side and chose to protect their position on that side.

In the end, the pressure was better from the right and the New Zealand team flew over them.

“That decision was not a very happy decision,” Bruni told the Herald. “But we looked at the wind and made our decision, there are no regrets.

“I think we had a very good race up to that point, we lost a change of wind and they left, there is not much more we can say about it.”

When asked what it was like to sail with the New Zealand team breathing down their necks for the race, Bruni said it was “like trying to drown a fish in water.”

Despite the day’s second race being canceled, Luna Rossa stayed in the water a bit longer to get more valuable sailing time on her belts as they looked for a way to change the series.

The Cup game is scheduled to resume tomorrow at 4:15 pm, conditions permitting.

If the New Zealand team wins the first scheduled race of the day, they will retain the America’s Cup. Luna Rossa needs to win every race going forward to take it from her.

Are you going to compete in the Cup?

• Take enough time and think about taking a ferry, train or bus to see the Cup.

• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It is the best way to ride.

• Don’t forget to scan QR codes with the NZ COVID Tracer app when you are on public transportation and enter America’s Cup Village.

• For more ways to enjoy race day, visit at.govt.nz/americascup.