Sailing – Corona outbreak halts America’s Cup Challenger – sport

Auckland / New Zealand (dpa) – The Coronavirus outbreak in Auckland has halted the classic American Cup sailing finals for the time being.

The organizers announced that after Italy’s trophy hunters had won the third and fourth races in the final of the competitors’ round against Great Britain, the next race day had to be postponed on 17 February. Previously, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered a temporary Level 3 closure for the city and a Level 2 lockdown for the rest of the country.

Three cases occurred in a suburb south of Auckland. As a result, schools, public institutions and the America’s Cup Village were cordoned off by authorities for at least 72 hours.

New Zealand has so far successfully confronted the epidemic with strict lockdowns. Participants – and thus the Copa America members as well – had to go through a strict two-week quarantine. The epidemic appears to have been brought under control in the island nation through this new outbreak, which is why tens of thousands of fans gathered in the New Zealand summer.

The Prada Cup Final has now been suspended with a score of 4: 0 for Luna Rossa, Prada Pirelli, led by Patrizio Bertrelli against Britain’s Ineos team in the UK over sailing star Sir Ben Ainsley. The team that scores seven wins first will challenge New Zealand in the Copa America. This will start on March 6th. For the first time in the Copa America’s 170-year history, the Challenge Final has become a purely European affair.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210214-99-434290 / 2