The first day of the PRADA Cup Final was a double for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, with the Italian team taking the lead of the provisional ranking clearly leading both races and appearing just a click faster than the British team. Still, a long way to go to the end being a 13-races series, with the Italians in need of five more wins to go through to the America’s Cup 2021 Live Stream. INEOS TEAM UK still needing 7 wins.
“Who will win?” has been one question that has been doing the rounds more than any other but, with a range of weather conditions over the next few days, the prospect of a quick answer to the most popular question in Auckland seems unlikely, leaving the racing to deliver the answers.
The sea breeze built quickly, white caps were now spread across the course area. Race 2 looked set to be a completely different match.
In the pre-start, INEOS TEAM UK came smoking in on port tack and headed out towards the right-hand side of the pre-start box. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli gybed and followed, a duel looked set. INEOS TEAM UK was leading the charge but they were also early for the start and keen to burn some time.
While the physical gap between the two closed, the start was even, both at pace, both at full speed. If there was an advantage it was to INEOS TEAM UK who were to leeward and slightly ahead, a position that Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli struggled to live with as they sat in the turbulent air off the back of the British. Seconds later they were forced to tack off. Advantage INEOS TEAM UK.
But when the pair came back together, INEOS TEAM UK was on port tack and had to give way, they chose to dip behind Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. In the seconds that followed, with the Italians on port and the British on starboard, it was Luna Rossa that appeared to gain in a slight lift in the breeze. And when the pair came back together this advantage was enough for them to cross in front of the British to pass through Gate 1 with a lead of 11 seconds. INEOS TEAM UK rounded the same mark but gybed shortly after they had rounded. Meanwhile, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli pressed on towards the right-hand side of the course.
Speeds were now into the 43-45kt range with INEOS TEAM UK generally a notch quicker and slightly lower in the heading. But by Gate 2 distance between the two had grown to 270m, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli choosing the right-hand mark, INEOS TEAM UK the left.
From the aerial shots is seemed clear that the left-hand side of the course had more breeze, but neither crew needed to be in the air to see this, both talking on their onboard comms about the left-hand side is the favored route up the course.
Through Gate 3 Luna Rossa had edged out a few more seconds to around 19 seconds ahead as the pair chose opposite marks. Once again, the Italian performance was silky smooth. This time on the downwind leg the speeds were much more closely matched with nothing between them. And in the steady sea breeze, no real opportunity for INEOS TEAM UK to make up the distance.
On the last windward leg, INEOS TEAM UK had hauled back a few meters, but time was running out to reel in the 270m that would be required to get back in touch with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
At the top Gate, 5 Luna Rossa were now 26 seconds ahead as they went around the left-hand mark. The British took the right-hand mark in a bid to try something different once again. But the Italian performance remained solid. A few minutes later they crossed the finish line 26 seconds ahead to take their second win of the day.
When is the Prada Cup?
The 36th America’s Cup match itself takes place on March 6-15 but the Prada Cup series is understandably a lot longer. The round robins took place between Jan 15-24, with the semi-finals from Jan 29-Feb 2. The Prada Cup final, which includes Great Britain as they topped the round robins, will be from Feb 13-Feb 22 with racing taking place between the hours of 03:00-05:00 GMT. Get ready to set your alarm clock!
What channel is it on and how can I watch it?
Every race of the America’s Cup series will be shown live on Sky Sports, normally Sky Sports Mix. The BBC will be also be showing the semi-final and final of the Prada Cup, as well as decisive race days during the America’s Cup match itself. The America’s Cup YouTube channel also has a live stream.
What is the Prada Cup schedule?
Round robin: Jan 15-24 – Completed with Great Britain finishing top
Semifinal: Jan 29-Feb 2 (United States v Italy) – Completed with Italy victorious
Final: Feb 13-Feb 22 (Great Britain v Italy) – between 0300 and 0500 GMT
Today’s races have been held on Race Course A, the Northern playfield in front of thousands of spectator boats. The first race was raced with wind between 6-9kt from NNE, whereas in the second race the breeze increased to up to 17 knots and the top speed reached was 47.82 knots.
Races will resume tomorrow 14th of February at 4:00 PM (NZT), two races are planned, weather permitting. The PRADA Cup Final is a best-of-13 series with a team needing to win seven races to advance to the America’s Cup Match and face the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand on the 6th of March.
INEOS Team UK
The underlying cooperative period of the Prada Cup saw INEOS Team UK stay undefeated as they piled up six triumphs.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli then oversaw three triumphs and was crushed multiple times. Fundamentally, the three misfortunes were from their three races against the British group.
The Italians come into the finals looking for their first success against INEOS Team UK and will have no uncertainty have dismantled their past experiences to strategise a course to triumph over their adversaries.
Luna Rossa Challenge (Team Italy)
The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team are driven by captain and group chief Max Sirena, a double-cross victor who is participating in his seventh America’s Cup challenge.
Likewise dashing for the Italians is three-time Olympian Francesco Bruni. The 47-year-old made his Olympic presentation at Atlanta in 1996 where he completed twelfth in the laser class. His endeavors at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 didn’t yield a decoration however his profundity of involvement will be a resource out adrift.
Bruni is extremely acquainted with his present group, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, as he originally hustled with them back in 2003 when it was known as Luna Rossa Challenge.
Ainslie has been dashing in the America’s Cup since 2005 and carries with him an abundance of involvement. He was essential in Oracle Team USA’s noteworthy turnaround triumph against Emirates Team New Zealand in 2013.
HOW TO WATCH AMERICA’S CUP 2021 LIVE STREAM ON TV
Fans of the America’s Cup all around the world will be able to enjoy coverage via all forms of media on every screen in 2020 and 2021. The primary objective of the live broadcast of the 36th America’s Cup is to make this the most viewed and accessible America’s Cup competition. To ensure both the most accessible and most complete live and highlights coverage from broadcasters in well over 195 territories, the 36th America’s Cup has partnered with free-to-air and pay networks.
The primary objective of the live broadcast of the 36th America’s Cup is to make this the most viewed and accessible America’s Cup competition.
Racing in the spectacular AC75s in Auckland, New Zealand will begin on 17-20 December 2020 with the PRADA America’s Cup World Series Auckland and the PRADA Christmas Race. The PRADA Cup, the Challenger Selection Series, begins on 15 January 2021. The winner of the PRADA Cup will meet the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the 36th America’s Cup Match starting on 6th March 2021.
To ensure both the most accessible and most complete live and highlights coverage from broadcasters in well over 195 territories, the 36th America’s Cup has partnered with free-to-air and pay networks including:
New Zealand – the home country of Emirates Team New Zealand (Defender) – TVNZ
Italy – the home country of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (Challenger of Record) – RAI and Sky Italia
UK – the home country of INEOS Team UK (Challenger) – BBC and Sky UK & Ireland
USA and Caribbean – the home country of NYYC American Magic (Challenger) – NBC Sports
Australia – Fox Sports Australia
Pacific Island Nations – Pasifika TV
France, Switzerland, sub-Saharan Africa, and other French territories – Canal+
Sweden – TV12 and C More
South Africa & sub-Saharan Africa – SuperSport
Korea – SBS
Taiwan – ELTA
Malaysia & Brunei – Astro
European Broadcasting Union – a comprehensive partnership allowing EBU members to access live, long and short-form highlights, and news via the Eurovision News Exchange
Canada – TSN
Latin America and the Caribbean – ESPN
Japan – DAZN
Singapore – Singtel TV and CAST
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland – Servus TV
Greece and Cyprus – Nova
Israel – Charlton
Switzerland – MySports
News distribution with SNTV and other agencies
Every Match and race of the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA will be streamed live on Youtube, Facebook, and americascup.com in almost every country around the world. The event’s official website will provide all the live content including onboard camera footage, Virtual Eye graphics, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and more. The fans will be able to follow the action in real-time on their computer, mobile, or tablet without the need to download an app. Full replay of the races will be available on the americascup.com minutes after the end of the last race of the day.