After the ninth regatta, New Zealand is one step away from winning the 36th edition of the America's Cup. In the ninth regatta, the Kiwis beat the Italian team of Luna Rossa and now lead the race with a score of 6-3. Due to the lack of wind, only one regatta took place in Auckland Bay. Race 10, in fact, has been postponed to tomorrow, Wednesday 17 March.
America's Cup: Kiwis have a clear advantage
In the ninth regatta there were five magnificent buoys of Red Moon in a beautiful challenge, fast and always uncertain, where the difference was made by New Zealand, owner of the strong side of the race course. It ended with the winning New Zealanders with a gap of 30 ”.
Postponed by half an hour, race-9 started with a good wind, on 16 knots, which promised a very fast regatta. In fact, the wait was not betrayed. The first stretch was a head-to-head with New Zealand who gained the outer edge. At the first gate the gap between the two boats is one second, to the advantage of Luna Rossa, who turns to the second with a wider margin, 8 ”.
Between gate and jibe
The challenge is the most exciting of the series, the jibes are synchronous, reaching 43 knots, that is 79 kilometers per hour. The gaps are minimal, but the blue helmsman, James Spithill, is 'on fire' and Luna Rossa maintains an advantage of over a hundred meters. Halfway through the course the Italian crew tries to force the Kiwis out of the race course, but the New Zealanders jibe and change course. At the third gate, Italy has a 9-second advantage. On the fourth, only 3 ".
In the fifth, Luna Rossa leads, but having the 'defender' on the right side, the strong one, is not reassuring, so she decides to take the champions on her left, and changes sides. The choice is not rewarding. The New Zealand team flies away: turns perfectly on the penultimate buoy, does it with an advantage of 18 ”, takes off and crosses the finish line with an advantage of over 400 meters.
(Photo Facebook Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team)
