Sir Ben Ainslie expresses his anger at Team UK s media conference snub after their Prada Cup defeat.
An angry Sir Ben Ainslie described as “one of the most insulting things I’ve experienced” an initial plan to exclude his Team UK from the media conference following their elimination from the Prada Cup.
Stuff witnessed an upset Ainslie in a heated post-race exchange with the head of the Italian Challenger of Record, (COR) which made the media arrangements to follow a cup victory by Italy’s Luna Rossa. COR told
Stuff the original “winning-team-only” plan was an error of judgement, which it changed when it realised it had caused upset, and both teams attended what became Team UK’s exit from the regatta.
America s Cup 2021: Prada Cup final race 5 and 6 live, Luna Rossa v Ineos Team UK - Schedule, start time, odds, live streaming and how to watch
20 Feb, 2021 04:40 AM
7 minutes to read
Beyond the Cup - Prada Cup Final Day 4 Preview - Can Ineos Team UK build on their first win of the Finals series on Saturday? AUT Sailing Professor Mark Orams joins Alex Chapman to preview all of the news ahead of races 7 & 8. Video / NZ Herald
Beyond the Cup - Prada Cup Final Day 4 Preview - Can Ineos Team UK build on their first win of the Finals series on Saturday? AUT Sailing Professor Mark Orams joins Alex Chapman to preview all of the news ahead of races 7 & 8. Video / NZ Herald
Photo: Studio Borlenghi
The challenger of record (COR), Luna Rossa, wanted racing in the best-of-13 series to get back underway on Friday.
But it appears the Italian syndicate have settled for a Saturday resumption.
Two races are scheduled, with a further two scheduled for Sunday.
Luna Rossa have won the first four races and are three more wins away from earning the right to challenge Team New Zealand for the America s Cup.
It has been a year since race conditions for the Challenger Selection Series finals were signed off between all relevant parties - well before the full force of Covid-19 was felt by sports in New Zealand and around the world.