The 36th edition of the Americas Cup was held for the third time in the famous Hauraki Gulf off Auckland, with the final starting on tenth March after a four days delay due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in New Zealand, and then ending today Wednesday seventeen March, after six days, and ten races in a best of thirteen first to seven format. For the 36th Americas Cup Team New Zealand also introduced the new fast foiling mono-hulls type AC75 boats. Each boat was required to be build in the Teams Country, with a team allowed to construct up to two boats.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli under the Circolo della Vela Sicilia club won the right to challenge the cup after winning the 2021 Prada Cup Challenger series held between January fifteen to February fifteen.
Three teams competed in the challenger series; NYYC American Magic from the New York Yacht Club, INEOS Team UK from the Royal Yacht Squadron, and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli from the Circolo della Vela Sicilia which was also Challenger of Record for the 36th Americas Cup. A four round robin series was held, this won and dominated by the INEOS Team UK who won all six races and with this entered straight into the Challenger final. Luna Rossa had a 3-3 score line, and American Magic lost all six and retired for the third and fourth round robins after they damaged their boat Patriot during a Round Robin two race. With this result Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli had to challenge American Magic in the semi final winning it in a convincing 4-0 on the first two race days held on January 29 and 30. The Prada Cup challenger final was held between February thirteen and 21 in four match days and eight races. Skippered by Max Sirena, Luna Rossa dominated Sir Ben Ainslie Britannia with a convincing 7-1 score line, as the Italian Red-Moon made it for the second time in the Americas Cup final, after 21 years and its first year 2000 campaign with ITA45.
The 36th Americas Cup final was much of a close tie until the third racing day. The opening race day on ten March ended in a draw as Emirates Team New Zealand won the first race, and Luna Rossa clawing one back on the second. Day race two on twelfth March followed the same script in reverse, and saw the parity between the challenger and defender repeat itself, something which will continue between the two teams till the third day on March thirteen, as Luna Rossa win again the first match but lose again the second. Unfortunately for the challenger this was the last win as Te Rehutai skippered by Peter Burling showed everyone what she was all about and won all remaining races in dominating fashion with the exception of race eight. For many this race eight was the turning point of the final as bouncy light wind conditions will give a four minute plus advantage to Luna Rossa till the third gate, as Team New Zealand will fall off its foils only for the opposite to happen in the final three gates to the challenger.
The fastest boat always wins the cup and Te Rehutai was the faster machine, although this time it was close, especially upwind as challenger and defending boats showed similar speeds against the wind, with Team New Zealand being more spirited down wind with an extra half a knot of Velocity Made Good speed.
Their is no second but for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli this fifth campaign and second Americas Cup final was the most successful to date also in light of the 7-3 result and the performance of the boat. Founded in 1997 first as Prada Challenge the Patrizio Bertelli team has competed in five editions of the Americas Cup; 2000 reaching the final with ITA45 then white washed 5-0 by NZL60, 2003 reaching semi-final in the challenger series, 2007 finalist in the challenger series, and 2013 were it again reached the final of the challenger series.
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