Wellington (AFP)
Italian challenge Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli leads 5-1 ahead of Britain's Ineos Team UK in the Prada Cup, following Saturday's two races in Auckland Bay which saw each of the two yachts win one.
In this duel in which the winner will challenge Team New Zealand in the prestigious America's Cup, Luna Rossa won the first set to take the lead 5-0, the next going to Ineos who reduced the gap to 5 -1.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is only two victories away from qualifying, with the Prada Cup final being a best of thirteen rounds.
Scheduled for Wednesday, these fifth and sixth rounds had been postponed due to the three-day confinement decided in Auckland after positive cases of Covid-19.
Under a blue sky in Auckland Bay, everything was decided at the start, a crucial strategic moment.
But Ineos Team UK, wanting to be too aggressive, suffered a penalty at the start in the first regatta, which cost it the victory.
Luna Rossa, helmed by Australian James Spithill, had a 15-second lead after the outward leg, to then take off and cross the virtual finish line with 1 min 20 seconds ahead of her opponent.
Ineos Team UK, helmed by British sailing legend Ben Ainslie, got the best at the start of the next.
He was thus able to better control the debates, even if his victory was only decided at 14 seconds.
"We needed to win one (regatta, note)," said Ben Ainslie.
"The strong wind helped us. When it spins at 13 knots and above, the forces balance out, while below, we are struggling," he analyzed.
Even if Luna Rossa is now at the gates of the America's Cup, Jimmy Spithill is not yet singing victory.
"We take the regattas one after the other, without thinking about the end result, and this day has shown how close the boats are," he said.
The next two rounds are scheduled for Sunday morning, still in Auckland Bay.
© 2021 AFP