America’s Cup 2021: Prada Cup Final Race 5 & 6 Live, Luna Rossa v Ineos Team UK – Schedule, Start Time, Odds, Live Stream & How To Watch

All the action from the Prada Cup Final between Luna Rossa and Ineos Team UK with AUT Sailing Teacher Mark Orams.

The Prada Cup final series finally returns on Saturday following Auckland’s quick lockdown and a bitter feud between the organizers of the America’s Cup event and Challenger of Record Luna Rossa.

The Prada Cup will head to the E field near Waiheke Island, although there is very likely a delay in the start of action.

With the winds at the lowest possible limit of the forecast agreed for the race bell for 4pm, the race leadership is hopeful that the event will start on time, but hopes there will be some kind of delay.

The wind is expected to pick up at 5pm and stay around 7-10 knots until after 6pm. Races can start no later than 6pm, so a delay of more than an hour would likely mean that only one race would be sailed today.

Race director Iain Murray said they probably wouldn’t have a clear idea of ​​what the conditions and wind direction are doing until 3pm.

The course, off the coast of Maraetai and Bucklands Beach, was chosen in part because of its remote location to discourage mass gathering of spectators in locations that are generally preferred by race organizers.

Auckland is currently under Level 2 restrictions, due to recent community cases of Covid-19, which means that gatherings of more than 100 people are not allowed.

Lighter conditions are expected to favor the Luna Rossa boat, which has consistently performed better at the lower end of the AC75’s typical race speeds.

America’s Cup Events Ltd. (ACE) criticized Luna Rossa in a media statement published Thursday just minutes before Luna Rossa held a press conference in which she sought to explain her desire to restart racing.

Luna Rossa was eager to race even on Thursday and certainly Friday if the arrangements could be put in place in time. The organizing committee reluctantly agreed that the races should start again at the weekend.

Race director Iain Murray from Australia finds himself in an embarrassing situation, caught between warring factions whose dispute stems from their disparate personal interests.

ACE, which is partly controlled by Copa America defender Team New Zealand, runs the public side of the race. It has put in place the infrastructure for the event, funded by national and local contributors, and oversees public interaction with the event.

Although Auckland went to a lowered alert level at midnight on Wednesday, public gatherings are still restricted to 100 people, meaning the large crowds that have followed the races from Cup Village are no longer able to do so. Large crowds have also watched the races from vantage points overlooking the racing fields.

ACE has indicated its reluctance to watch races as spectators, who have helped fund the regatta, have limited ability to see it.

Luna Rossa, as the Challenger of Record, rules the Prada Cup Challenger series and therefore has the power to decide when races are played. The Italian team also hold a 4-0 lead over the United Kingdom of Great Britain in the Prada Cup final from first to seven wins.

For that reason, you’ve had to respond to claims that you have a conflict of interest both in participating in the races and in deciding when they should occur. The UK team has so far sided with ACE by showing reluctance to run as long as the current alert level is maintained.

“While Ineos Team UK has not been consulted, we fully respect and will abide by ACE’s decision and will be ready to compete as requested,” said Team UK.

“We think this potential outcome would be an embarrassment to Auckland racing fans when the city has done such a wonderful job organizing the regatta. The racing village will be closed and fields B and C will not be accessible to limit meetings. of more than 100 people “.

In its devastating press release on Thursday, ACE accused Luna Rossa of being inflexible in its refusal to allow a change to the racing schedule while alert level restrictions are in place. Luna Rossa insists that the schedule, which requires the Prada Cup final to conclude on February 24, has been agreed and must be respected.

ACE President Tina Symmans accused Luna Rossa of not showing “honor and respect for this country and delaying the Prada Cup until we have a greater chance that everyone can enjoy and benefit from returning to (Alert) Level 1.”

“They have clearly forgotten the words of their leader Patricio Bertelli at the opening press conference, who spoke about how privileged it is for everyone to be in Auckland without significant restrictions from COVID and that therefore everyone has the commitment and responsibility from delivering great sportsmanship and the Prada Cup to being a great sporting event.

“This plea has fallen on deaf ears and it is clear that their focus is solely on Luna Rossa taking the Prada Cup rather than the common good of the country (which has) worked so hard to be in a position to organize this event.”

Challenger of Record spokesperson Francesco Longanesi Cattani had just read ACE’s statement when Thursday’s press conference began and was clearly angry.

“I did not fully agree” with the comments Symmans had made “in the first place because, in my opinion, everything that has to do with sports fairness is related to respecting the rules and that is what we are doing.

“Second, we want to respect the government regulations on the COVID situation and the protocols that have been agreed with ACE and that allow careers to develop below level 2.

“Thirdly, I disagree with the comment that COR is only pushing for Luna Rossa because the opportunity to race gives (the UK team) more chances to win races and win the competition in the water.”

Longanesi Cattani said that changing the race schedule with the challenger final underway was like changing “the height of the goalposts if you have a small goalkeeper.”

-AP

Professor Mark Orams is a former New Zealand Sailing World Champion, New Zealand Team Member, Author, Environmentalist, and Professor of Sport and Recreation at Auckland University of Technology.

Calendar

The Prada Cup final is a best of 13 series, with the winner going on to challenge the New Zealand team in the America’s Cup match in March. There will be two races per race day of the Prada Cup final. The race window for each race day will be around 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the first race of each day scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

February 20: Race 5 and 6
February 21: Race 7 and 8
February 22: Race 9 and 10
February 23: Race 11 and 12
February 24: Race 13

Odd

Winner of the final series of the Prada Cup:

Luna Rossa – $ 1.10
Team Ineos UK – $ 5.75

To win race 5:

Luna Rossa – $ 1.35
Ineos Team UK – $ 2.90

How to watch and stream

The Herald will have live updates at nzherald.co.nz/sport while you can hear live commentary on Gold AM and iHeartRadio.

America’s Cup coverage is free on TVNZ. You can also stream the action live or on demand on TVNZ.co.nz or on the Copa América YouTube channel.

Race officials will determine which course will be used on each race day.

Alert Level 2 Restrictions

• Racetracks B and C will not be used for racing, to mitigate the possibility of large public gatherings on land, which are in line with government level 2 restrictions.

• There are no public viewing opportunities, such as shows on the docks or public screening of races in the race town.

• Including gatherings of no more than 100 people at the America’s Cup Race Village or public observation points around Auckland.

• Limited activations of the village to ensure there are no more than 100 people.

• Physical distance of 2 meters and a mask is recommended.

• All the bars, restaurants and cafes surrounding the Race Village can remain open according to the Ministry of Health Covid-19 level 2 guidelines.

• The public is reminded to always scan the NZCOVID19 Tracer app.