Italy and the United States have shown America’s Cup defending champions New Zealand that they will fight to the end to defend the sailing trophy in the 37th edition of the oldest international sailing competition.

Emirates Team New Zealand won the final preliminary regatta in Barcelona last week but narrowly lost to Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cup, which begins on Thursday.

The competition will determine the challenger to face New Zealand in the America’s Cup proper in October and will begin with two rounds of play before a semi-final and a final.

New Zealand are taking part in the group stages of the race but not the knockout rounds, and this is their last chance to refine their approach.

At the regatta in Barcelona, ​​the teams took to the water with their AC75 foiling boats for the first time in an official competition.

New Zealand triumphed in Bermuda in 2017 and again in Auckland three years ago. The country hopes to become the first nation to win the trophy in three consecutive finals since the USA in 1987, 1988 and 1992.

“We were expecting a close race and struggled to get the gear shifts right, but it will be a close regatta,” said New Zealand skipper Peter Burling after his team’s narrow victory over Italy last week.

“It’s about finding the right phases and sailing the boat in the right places.

“I think we were a little frustrated with how we sailed (in the final), but there’s a lot to look back on and watch afterwards.”

Italy was penalized three times in the last race of the regatta against New Zealand, which ultimately cost them the victory.

Luna Rossa, runners-up in the 2021 final, have a chance to avenge those defeats when they face New Zealand again in their opening match of the Louis Vuitton Cup on Thursday.

“Hats off to New Zealand for a great race, but I am very proud of the team,” said port helmsman Francesco Bruni.

“I think we have a great boat, a great team, a great sailing team and I think it will be a very interesting America’s Cup.”

– ‘Very close’ –

The America’s Cup began in 1851 when the New York Yacht Club’s (NYYC) boat America defeated the English Royal Yacht Squadron; the trophy is named after the ship.

The USA, record holders of 30 titles, retained the trophy until 1983, when Australia triumphed.

NYYC American Magic narrowly missed out on a place in the final of the Barcelona regatta, but their boat is fast enough to challenge New Zealand and they claimed a morale-boosting victory over the defending champions on Sunday.

“I think we’re still trying to figure out our strengths and weaknesses,” said captain Terry Hutchinson.

“The defender has set a pretty tough mark, his boat is very good and I think the Italians are just as good, but you can see that all the teams are very close to each other and you can’t spot anyone far from the start line and expect to overtake them.”

Ineos Britannia, the Swiss Alinghi Red Bull Racing and the French Orient Express have reason for optimism despite their difficulties at the regatta in Barcelona.

“We only had two wins, but it felt very close, like it was four. So I think the team is building good momentum and we’re trying to build on that for the round robins,” said Britannia sailor Dylan Fletcher.

Four-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie is the captain of the British team, which is backed by billionaire and Manchester United owner Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group.

France won only once last week, without a fight after a problem aboard the American Magic, but an even match with Great Britain gave the country hope.

“The key will be the maneuvers and a strong start. That’s why we need to work more on the handling of the boat in the simulator and on the water to come back stronger,” said Orient Express sailor Kevin Peponnet.

Along with four-time winners New Zealand and the United States, Switzerland is the only other nation to have won the trophy, having won it in 2003 and 2007.

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