Who Is Leading in Prada Cup?

The Prada Cup, also known as the 36th America’s Cup Challenger Selection Series, is currently underway in Auckland, New Zealand. The competition features three teams competing for the right to challenge Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup in March.

Current Standings:

  • INEOS Team UK – 4 points
  • American Magic – 3 points
  • Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – 0 points

INEOS Team UK:

Overview: INEOS Team UK, led by Sir Ben Ainslie, has been the standout team so far in the Prada Cup. They have won all four of their races and have looked dominant in each one. Their success can be attributed to their impressive boat speed and solid crew work.

Crew: The team is made up of a mix of experienced sailors and talented newcomers. Sir Ben Ainslie is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most successful sailors of all time. He is joined by tactician Giles Scott, who won gold at the 2016 Olympics, and wing trimmer Iain Jensen, who won gold at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

American Magic:

Overview: American Magic started off strong in the Prada Cup with a win over INEOS Team UK in their first race. However, they have struggled since then with losses to both INEOS Team UK and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

Crew: The team is led by skipper Terry Hutchinson, who has competed in four America’s Cups and won two world championships. His crew includes some of the top sailors from around the world including helmsman Dean Barker and tactician Paul Goodison.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli:

Overview: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has yet to win a race in the Prada Cup, but they have shown flashes of brilliance in their losses. Their boat speed has been impressive at times, but they have struggled with consistency and crew work.

Crew: The team is led by skipper Max Sirena, who has competed in six America’s Cups and won two as a tactician. His crew includes some of the top sailors from Italy including helmsman Francesco Bruni and tactician Pietro Sibello.

Conclusion:

The Prada Cup is still wide open with all three teams having a chance to make it to the final. INEOS Team UK looks like the team to beat at the moment, but American Magic and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli are both capable of causing an upset. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the competition plays out and which team will earn the right to challenge Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup.