The double match race that closed out the America’s Cup preliminary regatta in Sardinia delivered exactly the kind of knife-edge tactical theatre match racing fans crave. With the fleet racing wrapped up, the top two boats — Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand — were left alone on the track for a straight head-to-head, and the result was a start sequence that will be replayed for weeks.
Peter Burling and the Kiwi afterguard pushed hard into the final seconds, circling and jostling for the right of way, but a split-second miscalculation left Emirates Team New Zealand over the line early while Luna Rossa timed their entry to the hundredth of a second. That margin, as the commentary team noted in real time, is the entire game in match racing: lock down your opponent’s runway and the rest follows. Once ahead, Luna Rossa’s crew — with double Olympic gold medalist Ruggero Tita driving on the port side — methodically denied the Kiwis any clean air, tacking to cover every attempt to break free and extending a lead that carried all the way to the top mark.
Why the Double Match Race Matters for Naples
Beyond the result on the water, this double match race format is a preview of the pressure-cooker scenarios both syndicates will face when the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup gets underway in Naples. Starts decided by fractions of a second, boats covering rather than racing for speed, and crews reading shifts under direct cover — all of it is a rehearsal for a Cup defence shaping up as a genuine rivalry. For context on how dominant programs tend to find ways to keep winning, our look at sailing’s champion dynasties is worth revisiting.
Watch the Full Replay
The complete broadcast, covering both PR1 and PR2 head-to-heads with full commentary and on-the-water audio, is available in the official double match race replay. For anyone trying to read the tea leaves ahead of 2027, this is essential viewing.
Video courtesy of Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup Naples, Italy — watch the full video on YouTube.
