America’s Cup 2021: Team New Zealand v Luna Rossa – World Media Reacts to Day Three of Racing

Italian media are beginning to think it could happen, but Luna Rossa lifting the America’s Cup remains a ‘miracle’ despite another close battle yesterday that left the match tied at 3-3.

OA Sport’s Federico Militello acknowledges that the New Zealand team remains the favorite and that Luna Rossa needs to win four starts to get the four necessary victories.

“The path to glory therefore remains terribly narrow,” Militello wrote.

But let’s not forget that we are Italians. A people that many times, in history, has performed the greatest feats just when all seemed lost, exalted despite an adverse fate. The New Zealand media, a few days ago, had written that only a miracle could have saved Luna Rossa. From time to time miracles materialize in sport. If we believed it before, why not do it at 3-3? After all, it costs nothing. Luna Rossa: do you believe in miracles? “

The popular sailing site Rule69blog said that any mistake now by either team could decide the race.

“The Cup is going nowhere without the mother of all fights.”

“So that’s three in total. There are no real changes, but the track is getting shorter. The chance of recovering for either team from that day one of them will achieve a double win is shrinking. To have a surprise, picking the wrong sails, messing up the start, making a mistake twice and this could quickly fall in either direction and put a team in the box to snatch the Cup, “wrote sailor Magnus Wheatley.

“What is very clear after the first three days is that both ships are brilliant leaders. Neither makes tactical errors and it is difficult to detect crew errors. Such is the wing effect of the 747 that running ahead on these straight up and down runs. down is a huge advantage and, looking at the forecast for the next few days, it’s more of the same. When either ship goes ahead, its unique mode looks like the answer, the code, the contest DNA, but you don’t know. You can call which one has the advantage. Look at the speeds and it’s the whole New Zealand team. But look at the VMG and it’s all Luna Rossa.

“Is this a sprint race or a VMG race? Pick your poison. Pay your money. Take your chances. The crystal balls are clouded. This is anyone’s America’s Cup.”

Tom Cary of the Telegraph pointed out that despite being a 3-3 tie, the actual race was not that exciting.

“The pattern is getting weird: One boat goes ahead at the start and wins by a nautical mile. Then the other comes back and does the exact same thing.”

“Although the hosts kept the gap stable throughout the race, there were no overtaking lanes on Course A and the Luna Rossa made no mistakes, hogging the favored left side of the course that was unaffected by the fleet of spectator boats and taking every opportunity they could to give their rivals a hard time.

“The organizers will expect more changeable or tougher conditions in the future. This match has become tense in terms of results, but the individual races have disappointed in terms of action.”

Toby Heppell of Yachting World wrote that this could become the closest couple ever.

“There may be those who were expecting more passes in these races, who normally see the boat coming out of the start keeping its lead to the finish, but the competition remains on a razor’s edge and this may still become one of the most important. the closest Cups in the history of the event “.

“These races may lack some of the street fighting we were hoping for, there may not be a lot of passes, but the regatta itself? It has to be said that it is an absorbing interest.”

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.