The form team in the build-up regatta before Christmas in Auckland returned in January slightly on the back foot, compounding with a catastrophic capsize, which required a 9-day rebuild of its AC75 “Patriot”. With just two days of shaking before facing a much sharper Luna Rossa in the semi-final, American Magic was out-sailed in the first three races, before the technical problems scuttled its last chance. “I’m probably a bit in shock because we’ve spent the last three years of our lives chasing one thing, and it comes to an abrupt stop,” said Hutchinson. The team’s tactician and chief executive had revived his partnership with helmsman Dean Barker, after the pair held similar helmsman/tactician roles in Team New Zealand’s 2007 challenge in Valencia.
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Repechage, Race 4
Luna Rossa win by 3m 51s, win series 4-0
Finish - Luna Rossa are 3km up now and approaching the line.
They cross the line and are through to the Prada Cup final, where Team UK await.
American Magic are still out there and incur another boundary penalty. They finally cross 3m 51s behind - the fairytale ending was not to be.
Final leg - The Italians round the final mark and head downwind towards the finish, but American Magic have fallen off the foils and can only wave as their rivals power past in the opposite direction.
Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
American Magic s Patriot splashes down off its foils in the first Prada Cup semifinal at Auckland on Friday.
Advantage Luna Rossa. The smokin’ Italians are now just two wins from a spot in the America’s Cup challenger series final. American Magic may have achieved a victory of sorts just making the start-line for Friday’s opening two races of the Prada Cup semifinal series in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, but it was the Italian America’s Cup challengers who notched the wins that counted on the water as they charged away to a decisive 2-0 lead with back-to-back conclusive results.
America s Cup 2021 live: The Prada Cup semifinal - Schedule, start time, odds, live streaming and how to watch
29 Jan, 2021 01:15 AM
4 minutes to read
Beyond the Cup - All the action from the first two Prada Cup semifinal races, as Luna Rossa dominates American Magic. AUT s sailing Professor Mark Orams joins Cheree Kinnear to dissect the news. Video / NZ Herald
Beyond the Cup - All the action from the first two Prada Cup semifinal races, as Luna Rossa dominates American Magic. AUT s sailing Professor Mark Orams joins Cheree Kinnear to dissect the news. Video / NZ Herald
NZ Herald
Join us here for today s live blog of the Prada Cup semifinal between Luna Rossa and Amercan Magic in Auckland.