Naples was preparing for another crowded afternoon on the waterfront as the America’s Cup preliminary regattas approached their decisive stage, with Luna Rossa leading the standings on 51 points and New Zealand close behind on 43. Two fleet races remained before the leading pair would meet in the concluding match race, leaving the contest open despite the advantage held by the Italian team.
Alinghi, on 38 points, remained within reach but needed a more reliable sequence after fluctuating results in recent days. Luna Rossa Youth and Women were also firmly involved on 35 points, having maintained a notably consistent level through the event. The earlier meeting between the leading senior sides in Cagliari had already offered a taste of a possible final, but the fleet races in Naples still had the capacity to change the order.
The programme was initially set to begin at 14:10, with the second fleet race scheduled from 14:46 and the final duel between the top two boats planned for 15:27. Conditions, however, delayed the opening start. Wind across the course dropped below the 7.5-knot minimum required for racing, and the race committee moved the first start to 14:30 while waiting for stronger pressure.
Earlier, the wind in Naples had been around 10 knots, enough to keep the original timetable in place. Forecasts suggested that a land breeze could bring both a shift in direction and greater strength later in the afternoon.
Burling urged the Luna Rossa senior group not to regard the table as settled. “The teams are still very close,” he said. “Across two races it is easy to gain six or seven points, so there is still work to do if we want to reach the final.” He added that the crew hoped for sea-breeze conditions, which were considered a realistic possibility.
The Race Village along the Lungomare again reflected the scale of the occasion. More than 42,000 entries had been recorded by 13:00, following the 90,000 accesses registered there the previous day. Naples had become part of the contest rather than merely its host: a large public waiting beside the water while the wind determined when the championship’s next chapter could begin.
The regattas were available on Sky Sport Uno and Sky Sport Max, with Rai Due showing them free to air. Streaming coverage was offered through Now, Sky Go and RaiPlay.
