Finally, the America’s Cup 2021 is in sight as the three challengers continue to race in the Prada Cup to see who will take on the Defender, Emirates Team New ZealandIneos Team UK’s foiling monohull Britannia II will be racing competitively for the first time in the America’s Cup World Series Auckland. Photo: Facebook\/IneosTeamUKThe teams are there, the boats are there, and racing has finally started in the Prada Cup, the official competition to select the challenger to take on Emirates Team New Zealand for the 36th America\u2019s Cup\u00a0in Auckland.
\nThe Prada Cup, as it is now named, used to be called the Louis Vuitton Cup \u2013 or Challenger Selection Series. It will decide which of: Luna Rosa Prada Pirelli; INEOS Team UK; or American Magic will take on Emirates Team New Zealand in the 2021 America\u2019s Cup.
\nWhat do we know?
\nIn a normal Cup cycle we would have seen plenty of competitive racing by now and would have some idea what to expect, but with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting plans for America\u2019s Cup World Series events in Sardinia and Portsmouth racing has been extremely limited.
\nHowever, with the Round Robin series now concluded, we are starting to get a much better understanding of how each of the challengers compare at this early stage.
\nOur first real chance to see the AC75s racing one another was the America\u2019s Cup World Series, Auckland which took place in December 2020. This should have been followed by the Prada Christmas Cup but that too was called off \u2013 due to a lack of wind after just one lacklustre race between Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Team UK, which saw both teams all but drifting around the race course.
\nArticle continues below\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tHow the America\u2019s Cup contenders compare going into the Prada Cup<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAs each of the new AC75s were wheeled out into the open for the first time, amid the celebration and\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tEmirates Team New Zealand win World Series in first clues for 36th America\u2019s Cup<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCan the Kiwis be beaten for the 36th America\u2019s Cup? They must be on short odds already, three months out\u2026<\/p>\n
From the racing we did see in the America\u2019s Cup Word Series, we know that the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand look like they will be tough to beat come the America\u2019s Cup match itself. INEOS Team UK looked to have the most work ahead of them with a very disappointing showing at ACWS Auckland.
\nBrits win Prada Cup Round Robin
\nThe British team, however, have worked incredibly hard and came out of the blocks fighting and have since won all five of their Round Robin races in the Prada Cup, signalling their intent with an impressive double win on day one.
\nMore wins followed for the British team and, having won the Round Robin series, they go straight through to the Prada Cup final.
\nThough the Brits have looked very strong, and have made some changes to their boat, it is difficult to discern much difference in boat speed, with all boats seemingly performing pretty similarly across the wind range \u2013 though there have been small advantages for each in various wind speeds and directions.
\nThe biggest news of the opening weekend of racing was the dramatic capsize, damage, and near sinking of the American challenger, American Magic.
\nOn Monday 18th January, American Magic announced they would take no further part in the Round Robin racing for the Prada Cup with the damaged sustained by their yacht, Patriot.
\nWho is in the Prada Cup Semi-Final?
\nFrom all the comms coming out of the camp, it seems the American outfit is now confident they will be able to get back on the water for the Prada Cup Semi-Final, which will take place between themselves and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
\nThese two team, as second and third place in the Prada Cup Round Robin will go into a first-to-four-wins Semi-Final which begins on Friday 29th January.
\nThe winner of the Semi-Final will go through to the Final against INEOS Team UK and the loser will be out of the competition.
\nHow does the rest of the Prada Cup work?
\nOnce the Prada Cup Semi-Final has concluded and we see the first team leave the competition, which will leave a Final taking place between INEOS Team UK and the Semi-Final winner.
\nThis Prada Cup Final will see the two teams racing a head-to-head event with the first to seven wins going through to the America\u2019s Cup itself, where they will face America\u2019s Cup Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand.
\nThe Prada Cup Match itself (the final) will be held throughout February.
\nWhat is match racing?
\nAs is tradition for America\u2019s Cup racing as a whole, each of these races will see one team racing a single other team, or \u2018match racing\u2019 as it is known. Match Racing is a unique discipline in the sport of sailing and is explained well by INEOS Team UK sailing team member Matt \u2018Catflap\u2018 Cornwell in the video below.
\nHow can I watch the Prada Cup?
\nAll of the Prada Cup races will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, NBC Sports, TVNZ, RAI, and Sky Italia, as well as on the America\u2019s Cup YouTube channel and Facebook page.
\nYou can also watch via the Ineos Team UK website, which will also feature daily pre-race shows, hosted by Georgie Ainslie.
\nThere is clearly no shortage of options available, the problem for European viewers is likely to be the timezone difference, with the Prada Cup Round Robin and Semi-Final racing taking place between 0200 and 0400 GMT, while the Prada Cup itself will take place between 0300 and 0500 GMT, so if you want to watch live, you\u2019d better set your alarm clock!
\nThe post Prada Cup: How to follow the Semi-Final appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Finally, the America’s Cup 2021 is in sight as the three challengers continue to race in the Prada Cup to see who will take on the Defender, Emirates Team New ZealandIneos Team UK’s foiling monohull Britannia II will be racing … <\/p>\n