French Sailing Federation: news

[Habitable] – 03/17/2021

Emirates New Zealand team led by Peter Burling (31) won the 36th America’s Cup with a 7-3 victory over Italian Luna Rossa. “We’ve been learning all week and today we really showed what this boat can do! Winning at home, at home, is phenomenal!”

Initially, the Kiwis led 3 qualifiers to 2, and have racked up five straight wins since Saturday to eventually win 7-3. Presenting the Archipelago a fourth coronation, after 1995, 2000 and 2017, in one of the oldest competitions in the world, an institution that this year celebrates its 170th anniversary. “It’s totally unrealistic, it’s a huge satisfaction for the team,” New Zealander Coxwin Peter Berling said immediately after the win. The New Zealanders had hoped to finish the match on Tuesday, but Iole continued to be thrilled and forced tens of thousands of fans to congregate on Auckland beaches to sip on champagne. A turn in the wind has already prompted the organizers to postpone the 10th round by a day. And on Wednesday, Luna Rossa didn’t seem able to arouse the Kiwi’s suspicion, Team New Zealand finally crossed the finish line with 46 seconds ahead, plunging into the jubilation of a city that has emerged from coronavirus-related confinement, only 11 days earlier.

The win cements New Zealand’s position as a dominant power in an event that they have competed in in seven of the last eight editions. – “New Zealand Cup” – the archipelago is the second most successful country after the United States, which dominated the competition between 1851 and 1983. Hence the satisfaction of the new Prime Minister – Zeeland Jacinda Ardern. “Team New Zealand makes us proud once again to qualify for the America’s Cup in New Zealand,” she said in a statement. Italy’s sixth campaign ends once again in bitterness for Luna Rossa, who in February won the Prada Cup – qualifying for the America’s Cup – to take on British and American challenges. “It’s not over yet,” said assistant captain Francesco Bruni. “I’m sure Luna Rossa will try again.” The Italian challenge would at least have succeeded in making the scorners lie who declared the New Zealanders a 7-0 victory. He could even threaten the New Zealanders a bit more without some fatal tactical errors at several key points in the last five rounds. – ‘Beautiful Boats’ – Luna Rossa’s other assistant, Australian Jimmy Spiethl, who blew up New Zealand’s cup hopes won by Oracle 9-8 in 2013, considered the victory ‘deserved’ for the New Zealand team. “Of course we’ll have to go have a beer with the New Zealanders to honor them,” said his native Sydney. “But we have to thank all our teammates who put so much effort into allowing us to be here and fight for the America’s Cup.”

Ms Ardern, announced that her government would release five million New Zealand dollars (three million euros) to allow Team New Zealand to defend the trophy in its next edition. The English team of Team Inéos has also become a ‘Challenger of Record’ for the upcoming release, the single keelless flying boat, AC75, remains the official boat for two editions and every new incoming team will only be able to build one.

By: FFVoile

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