America's Cup: Blockbuster in thunder and lightning - Azzurri defeat Kiwis with risky start

The America's Cup stage off Barcelona experienced its most exciting day to date during the challenger round of the 37th America's Cup. And this despite the fact that only half the day's programme could be completed before thunder and lightning forced the race committee to quickly abandon the race and postpone the remaining duels until the following day.

Duel against elimination

The second round of the double round-robin phase began on 3 September with a clash between the two weakest challengers to date. The first round match between the Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing and the Orient Express Racing Team was won by the French team. At the start of the second round, it was the previously winless Swiss team that prevailed and secured their first point in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Even in this match, both teams showed their determination with boat speeds of over 40 knots in the starting box. And the absolute will to stay on the foils at all costs. Although Alinghi's hull dipped once shortly before the start, the Swiss team quickly got their boat back under control in the shifty winds, which were also very changeable in terms of pressure. While the French opted for a "dip start" from the windward side, the Swiss had long been clear again and set off on the course with a small advantage.

We just have to stay positive this week. Anything is possible this week." Quentin Delapierre

The preliminary decision in this match was already made on the first section of the course when the "Orient Express" shot too high into the air from a tack with a stall and subsequently fell off the foils. During and after this, the "Orient Express" looked as if its crew was struggling with problems. This was later confirmed by helmsman Quentin Delapierre: "We had a technical problem. That's very unfortunate, but it's part of the game, part of the America's Cup. Our confidence is still high. We know we will improve again this week. We can win all the matches."

Alinghi Red Bull Racing's "BoatOne", which was sailed with great concentration and focus on the day, quickly turned its initial advantage into a lead of more than a kilometre. Co-pilots Arnaud Psarofaghis and Maxime Bachelin brought their AC75-Foiler around the course flawlessly and gave the French, who had been beaten early on, no chance of catching up again. Co-driver Maxime Bachelin said: "That was a great way to start the week. I think we did pretty well. We like the shifty conditions and the stronger winds. We were pretty down after last week's results. But this is a good restart."

Exciting scenario ahead

After the Swiss and French equalised in their duel against the potential threat of elimination, an exciting scenario could emerge at the end of the second round of the round robin. If both players - as in the first round - remain without a win against one of the other challengers, there would be a play-off with only one point in each team's account. A single match between the teams tied on points would then decide the outcome.

The same rule would also apply if two teams were tied at the top at the end of the round robin round. As the Louis Vuitton Cup winner among the challengers has the right to choose their semi-final opponent, a play-off would also take place here. These duels must be decided by 7 p.m. on 11 September.

Only if the play-off cannot be held will the winner of the last match between the teams concerned decide in the event of an irresolvable tie. The team in fifth place in the Louis Vuitton Cup after the double round robin round is eliminated, while the other four teams reach the semi-finals.

Barcelona blockbuster between Azzurri and Kiwis

While many observers were still preoccupied with this scenario, an adrenaline-fuelled Barcelona blockbuster was on the horizon. The Cup stage had darkened for the first time that day. In addition to their helmets, the sailors also wore large, mostly brightening goggles to protect them from the rain. Then, after wind shifts and course shifts, the duel between the Cup giants from New Zealand and Italy began with a slight delay.

Both boats - New Zealand's "Taihoro" and Italy's "Luna Rossa" - sped into the starting box at an incredible 48 knots. A battle unfolded that gave a good foretaste of a possible duel in the 37th America's Cup match from 12 October. TV commentators and spectators held their breath several times.

Shortly before the start, "Luna Rossa" then accelerated extremely and, in a risky and aggressive manoeuvre between the starting buoy and the Kiwis, sailed upwind over "Taihoro" to the line. Thanks to their high speed, the extremely aggressive Italians narrowly escaped the threat of being "locked out" of the start by the Kiwis.

"Taihoro" caught on the wrong foot

Italy's co-pilots Francesco "Cecco" Bruni and Jimmy Spithill must have given each other a big hug for this cool show in the evening. The otherwise so confident Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge on "Taihoro" were left behind, having to tack immediately, starting the race on the wrong foot and falling off the foils as a result. "I made the mistake at the start," said Peter Burling later.

The "Taihoro" team was the first to suffer for losing the starting duel, finishing 17 seconds behind the Italian "Silberblitz" at the first windward gate. For the first time in this top duel, the wind was around 15 knots, but it did not remain consistent. When the Kiwis had already accumulated a gap of three quarters of a kilometre on the fifth of the six course sections, a kind of cry for help suddenly sounded from "Luna Rossa" in the direction of the race committee. The Italians had lost their navigation data in the rain and were therefore no longer able to recognise the course limits and were "flying blind" for a short time.

However, before there was any response from the race organisers, the data was visible again. A short time later, the excitement was replaced by an even bigger scare, which had announced itself with a heavy rainstorm and rolling thunder over the America's Cup course off Barcelona. On the way to the finish, the triumphal procession of "Luna Rossa" was suddenly illuminated in a dangerous way. Not far from the Italian foiler, a powerful bolt of lightning struck the water!

Let me put it this way: when you see lightning striking the race track, it's not funny." Peter Burling

Emirates Team New Zealand left the course immediately for safety reasons and was disqualified for being more than 100 metres outside the course boundaries. Race control then awarded victory to the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team and ended the race day.

Was that a foretaste of the Cup match?

The Italians' victory on this boisterous day of racing has no impact on the standings in the battle of the challengers for the four semi-final places in the Louis Vuitton Cup. But the Azzurri have more than hinted at what might be possible in this 37th edition of the Cup and in their seventh hunt for the "Auld Mug".

The conclusion of the day: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli keeps Italy's America's Cup fans dreaming in XL format. The New Zealand Cup defenders are obviously not unbeatable. After the race, "Luna Rossa's" co-pilot Francesco "Cecco" Bruni said: "We finally beat the Kiwis! When you win on such a difficult day, you're even more proud."

These matches are scheduled for 4 September:

• Match 18: NYYC American Magic vs. Ineos Britannia
• Match 19: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. Orient Express Racing Team
• Match 20: Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs NYYC Amerivan Magic
• Match 21: Ineos Britannia vs. Emirates Team New Zealand

Click here for the interim results in the Louis Vuitton Cup. Note: There are two result boxes. One WITH the New Zealand challengers, one WITHOUT them. The one WITHOUT Emirates Team New Zealand is the relevant one in the battle of the five challengers for four semi-final places.

Louis Vuitton Cup, Day 5, Match 16 - Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs Orient Express Racing Team:

Louis Vuitton Cup, Day 5, Match 17 - Emirates Team New Zealand vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli: