The images of the past few weeks looked like paradise: tens of thousands of fans had celebrated happily together in the current America's Cup capital of Auckland. In the middle of the New Zealand summer, they enjoyed the live broadcasts in the Cup harbour or watched the races from land and on the water. But now the party is over for the time being, as the Covid pandemic has returned to the island nation.
After a brilliant 2-0 start, Italy's Cup chasers also won races three and four in the challenger final for the Prada Cup and extended their lead in the "first to win seven" series to 4:0, but that was the last act of sailing at the Cup summit off Auckland for the time being, as New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered a Level 3 lockdown for the City of Sails and a Level 2 lockdown for the rest of the Pacific island nation for at least three days on Sunday.
What the sailors said about the races and the Covid lockdown in Auckland
The Covid pandemic is back in New Zealand and is also having an impact on the America's Cup. The organisers of the America's Cup Event Ltd. have already postponed the next race day of the final series for the Prada Cup, scheduled for 17 February, indefinitely. They have closed the venue in Auckland harbour to the public and announced that they will work closely with the authorities on further planning.
According to reports in the New Zealand Herald newspaper, there are three "new and active" Covid cases in south Auckland: a mother, a father and a daughter from Papatoetoe. New Zealand has always successfully countered the pandemic with strict lockdowns. Travellers entering the country, including those from the America's Cup teams, had to undergo strict quarantine requirements. The pandemic seemed to have been defeated in the island nation until this new outbreak - which is why tens of thousands of fans had gathered at cheerful fan events in the New Zealand summer without any special protective measures. That's all over for now. The organisers want to announce in the coming days how the challenger finals for the Prada Cup and the America's Cup can continue.
The Prada Cup final goes into a holding pattern with Patrizio Bertelli's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team 4-0 up against the British Ineos Team UK. The challenger for America's Cup defender New Zealand will be determined. The 36th America's Cup match is scheduled to begin on 6 March.
Still possible without a Covid lockdown interruption: the races from the second final day of the Prada Cup final in the replay
Despite the excitement in New Zealand, the sailors commented on the races themselves in initially 16 knots and later less wind in the subsequent press conference. British skipper Sir Ben Ainslie, whose team had lost both starts before a very competitive and close encounter, said: "We just need to get off the line better. I think we are up against two equally strong boats. They(Ed.: the Italians) had a really impressive day and didn't make any mistakes. We will come back and fight even harder. We know that we have the right boat in the wind. We know we can win races. We need to sail better over the whole course." Ainslie regretted not being able to sail next Wednesday in view of the predicted stronger winds, but at the same time said that people's health had to take centre stage. For the Italians, the two co-skippers Francesco Bruni and Jimmy Spithill took stock. Spithill said: "Today our grinders beat the other guys with simple muscle power." When asked about the increasing fan cheering in his native Italy, Luna Rossa's helmsman Francesco Bruni said: "I get thousands of emails every day. But we have to stay focussed. The tide can turn quickly." The Covid virus has now made sure of that.
This video clip became a hit at the weekend, and not just in America's Cup fan circles. This is how the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team sees the situation in the Prada Cup final...
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
