America’s Cup stays in New Zealand

Team New Zealand won the America’s Cup (7-3) for the fourth time in 26 years on Wednesday in front of an excited crowd in Auckland. Attractive in the early days, the Italians of Luna Rossa were no longer the weight at that time.

TheThe regattas of the last couple of days could have believed in the constant thrill until the end. But this time, the Italians from Luna Rossa didn’t make the weight. On Wednesday, for their 10th America’s Cup race, the New Zealanders took advantage of their first attempt to cross the line with a 46-second lead over the opponent and thus won the famous and illustrious silver race for the fourth time in 26 years. .

Peter Burling: ‘This is totally unrealistic’

“It’s completely unrealistic, it pleases the whole team,” replied Peter Borling, a player for the New Zealand team, who won the cup for the second time already (after 2017 in Bermuda). For his late compatriot Peter Blake, architect of New Zealand’s first two victories (1995, 2000). “I find it hard to prioritize the two successes I had with the great team around me. The win in Bermuda (7-1 over the Americans) allowed us to reclaim the cup. To impose ourselves here, in front of such an amazing crowd, is another emotion. That is awful!”

Of course, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern mingled with the crowd, who no longer had concerns about Covid, declaring solemnly, but with humor, that “the America’s Cup is a bit like the America’s Cup. From New Zealand now”; A gimmick that would then run in a loop during the awards ceremony.

Italians are disappointed and proud of what they have shown

While the Italians led the dance for a period (3-2), they haven’t scored a single point since Saturday, leaving the Kiwis to post 5 wins in a row after that. The result that changed in favor of the defender after the accumulated errors by the Luna Rossa crew: on Monday when the boat suddenly lost its wings and especially an advantage over … 4 minutes he saved on the defender; Also on Tuesday, when he nearly won the race, but chose the wrong side of the pool during one of his recent track changes.

Francesco Bruni: “I wish we could come back”

“It’s hard to lose today, but I’m very proud of the team and what we’ve done throughout this campaign,” said Francesco Bruni, one of Luna Rossa’s managers. “It was very close, but we showed the world that we are a great team. Simply put, we came across a stronger team. But honestly, I hope we will have another chance to show our experience.”

Jimmy Spiethel, for his part, said: “I am very disappointed, while I salute a team New Zealand who deserved to win,” said Australian helmsman Luna Rossa, who has run four finals of the Cup. America to his record (two wins, two losses). “For my part, I think I had one of the most amazing experiences of my career with this team. Having spent so many months in Sardinia with the team, I felt the passion and commitment of all these guys. Honestly, we had a great campaign!”