After a significant delay due to a lack of wind before Race 1, the second race of the day saw Luna Rossa face off against Emirates Team New Zealand. At NZT 1:23 in the morning, the two boats crossed the start line with Luna Rossa holding a slight lead of a few metres. However, New Zealand needed to be cautious, as boat angles could have change rapidly, potentially causing the leading boat to generate dirty wind for the one following.
As Luna Rossa shifted from the left side of the course towards the right, the Kiwis seized their opportunity and moved to the left-hand side of the course, where just minutes earlier, the French had found success. The Kiwis quickly began to see the fruits of their labour, narrowing the gap to just a few metres.
Approaching the first gate, Luna Rossa maintained a slim lead, with the Kiwi boat following ten seconds later. Both boats accelerated smoothly into the second leg, with Luna Rossa initially putting on a good amount of speed and extending their lead to 90 metres. However, as the leg progressed, New Zealand made the most of their wind, and by the time they rounded the gates into the third leg, the lead had been halved, with only five seconds separating the two teams.
On the upwind leg, the Italians extended their lead again, while the Kiwi boat struggled to recover from what appeared to be a small strategic error, having moved too far to the left in the earlier part of the third leg. The Italians executed a manoeuvre that seemed to backfire, allowing the Kiwis to take the lead partway down the third leg. By the time they reached the fourth gate, New Zealand had gained a 50-metre advantage, with the Italians trailing by six seconds.
As the race continued up the fourth leg, the Kiwis capitalised on the upwind conditions, achieving consistently higher speeds early in the leg. The Kiwi boat was reaching speeds of over 40 knots, while the Italians were struggling in the high 30s. By the time they were halfway up the fourth leg, New Zealand had extended their lead to 160 metres.
New Zealand continued to extend their lead, reaching 200 metres by the fifth gate, where they sped through the gate with the Italians 21 seconds behind. Entering the final leg, the Kiwis maintained a substantial lead of 250 metres, and the Italians found it impossible to catch up as both teams were sailing at roughly the same speed.
As they approached the final gate, New Zealand was well ahead, with the Italians lagging 21 seconds behind. The final leg became a formality, barring any catastrophe. The Kiwis sailed to victory, crossing the finish line after 21 minutes and 7 seconds, with the Italians finishing just 12 seconds later. Despite a valiant effort by Luna Rossa, it was another win for New Zealand, though no points were awarded in this race as New Zealand is making up numbers in the Challenger Series but cannot become the challenger for the America’s Cup series, as the defender.
