The PRADA Cup is a sailing competition that determines the challenger for the America’s Cup. The event takes place in Auckland, New Zealand and features three teams: INEOS TEAM UK, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, and American Magic.
After several weeks of intense racing, the two teams that have made it to the final of the PRADA Cup are Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team and INEOS TEAM UK. The first team to secure four victories will win the competition and earn the right to challenge Emirates Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup.
The Road to the Final
The PRADA Cup started with a round-robin phase where each team raced against one another. The team with the highest number of points at the end of this phase advanced directly to the final while the other two teams competed in a semi-final series.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team dominated this phase of the competition, winning six out of their seven races. Their only loss came against INEOS TEAM UK who finished second in this phase with four wins and three losses. American Magic struggled in this phase, winning only two races and failing to advance directly to the final.
In the semi-finals, INEOS TEAM UK faced off against American Magic while Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team waited for their opponent in the final. Despite being considered underdogs, INEOS TEAM UK produced a stunning performance to beat American Magic 4-0 and secure their spot in the final.
The Final
The final promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team has been consistent throughout this competition while INEOS TEAM UK has improved significantly since their early struggles.
Both teams have also made significant changes to their boats and crews since they last faced each other in the round-robin phase. It remains to be seen which team will come out on top in the final.
- Key Matchups:
- Helmsmen: Jimmy Spithill (Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team) vs Ben Ainslie (INEOS TEAM UK)
- Tacticians: Francesco Bruni (Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team) vs Giles Scott (INEOS TEAM UK)
- Boats: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team’s boat has a unique foil system while INEOS TEAM UK’s boat has made significant improvements in their speed and maneuverability.
Conclusion
The PRADA Cup has been a thrilling competition with some breathtaking moments of sailing. The final promises to be a fitting end to this event as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team takes on INEOS TEAM UK for the right to challenge Emirates Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup. It’s anyone’s game at this point, but one thing is for sure – it’ll be an exciting race to watch!