/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/DMLUA5FGRNBCNKTAS42SBPTAV4.jpg)
And we start the Final for the 36th America's Cup! New Zealand has shown us worldwide a great deal in the past few weeks- they even dealt with potential Tsunami warnings after an 8.1 earthquake hit one of the smaller archipelagos to the East of the 2 main islands that make up New Zealand. Thankfully, nothing as major as we have seen in the past 10 years, but certainly a scare.
Nonetheless, the 'best of 13' format started yesterday with races 1 and 2, which were split between 'Luna Rossa' and 'Te Rehutai'. The Kiwis look like a freaking drag racer in open air, and definitely untouchable in downwind legs....they're a freaking speed machine.
The Italians, however, were their usual stable self, and appear stronger in upwind legs. They also embraced true "match racing" tactics- tacking duels and up close maneuvers to block ETNZ's clean wind. While they stayed in that orientation, they were able to completely control their opponent and prevent them from finding clean space to work in. Interestingly enough, it was only when the Italians opened up their lead in the second race to over 800m that they got in trouble....once they gave up their stronger position in an attempt to just run away with it, they allowed the Kiwis back in and showed their speed. While Team Prada/Pirelli still won race 2, I think they learned that if they want to win this regatta, they need to stay close, win the pre-start, and control the positioning.
Its 2 races a day with only 1 day off, and if pushed to 13 races, the final day will feature only 1 race. That's a LOT of racing in a short window of time. Almost no time for adjustments between days- they'll dance with the girl they came with, and live with the results. This is when years of prep, design, and research meet the elements and the other team to see which concept wins out- assuming quality execution by both teams. Will it be the Italians mantra of "the team with the fewest mistakes will win" or the Kiwis belief that "build the fastest monster you can, and learn to control her"? The next 2 days will reveal a lot.