What Happened to New Zealand in Prada Cup?

The Prada Cup, which is the Challenger Selection Series for the America’s Cup, took place in Auckland, New Zealand from January 15th to February 21st, 2021. The event saw three teams – Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, INEOS Team UK, and American Magic – compete against each other in a series of races to determine who would challenge defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup.

Unfortunately for New Zealand fans, their beloved team did not make it to the final round of the Prada Cup. So what happened? Let’s take a closer look.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was one of the strongest teams in the Prada Cup. The Italian team had a solid performance throughout the round-robin stage and went on to win both their semifinal races against American Magic with ease. They then faced INEOS Team UK in the final and emerged as deserved winners after winning seven out of ten races.

INEOS Team UK

INEOS Team UK had a rather shaky start to the Prada Cup but managed to bounce back strongly by winning all but one of their remaining round-robin races. They then defeated Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in their first semifinal race before losing two consecutive races and being knocked out of the competition.

American Magic

American Magic was considered one of the favorites heading into the Prada Cup but unfortunately had a disappointing campaign. They lost all but one of their round-robin races and were forced to withdraw from racing after suffering significant damage to their boat following a capsize during a race against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

What Went Wrong for New Zealand?

There are several reasons why Emirates Team New Zealand did not perform as well as expected in the Prada Cup. Firstly, they had limited opportunities to race against the other teams due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. This meant that they were not able to fine-tune their boat and race tactics as much as their competitors.

Secondly, their boat design may not have been as competitive as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Team UK. Both teams had made significant improvements to their boats during the Christmas break and appeared to be faster than Emirates Team New Zealand.

Lastly, Emirates Team New Zealand may have been complacent after winning the America’s Cup in 2017. They may have underestimated the competition and failed to prepare adequately for the Prada Cup.

The Future

Although it was disappointing for New Zealand fans to see their team knocked out of the Prada Cup, there is still hope for them in the America’s Cup. As defending champions, Emirates Team New Zealand will face off against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in a best-of-13 series starting on March 6th, 2021. It remains to be seen whether they can bounce back and retain their title.