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Looks Romanesque, but it's a race between two well-equipped super yachts.
Here the Luna Rossa team is dragged back into Waitemata Harbor after the sixth race
Photo:
Andrew Cornaga / dpa
In the 36th match for the America's Cup, the sailing teams of defending champions and hosts New Zealand and challengers Italy continue to deliver a close race.
Each team won a race on Saturday before Auckland, so it is now 3: 3 after the third day.
Seven victories are necessary to win the oldest and most important trophy in sailing.
The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team from Italy, which started as an outsider in this prestigious duel, won the first race of the day with an 18-second lead after a perfectly timed start in inconsistent winds.
In race six it was exactly the opposite: a mistake cost Luna Rossa the lead on the port side, so New Zealand's helmsman Peter Burling and his crew on the Te Rehutai were the first to cross the start line - and finished 1:41 minutes before the challengers.
"It's a bit of a minefield out there, especially in the starter box," said Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill.
Tens of thousands of fans and a record fleet of 1,600 spectator boats provided the regatta port and the racing course in Hauraki Golf with a spectacular backdrop at the start of the weekend.
The cup duel will continue this Sunday (4.15 a.m. CET / Servus TV) with races seven and eight.
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sak / sid / dpa
