The Prada Cup final between Luna Rossa and Ineos Team UK has been postponed.
Racing was set to continue on Wednesday, but the news that Auckland - where the races are being held - has moved into level 3 lockdown will see the final pushed back.
The news was announced after the conclusion of racing this afternoon, once the Government had released the new alert levels.
"As a result of the Government announcement of level three lockdown in Auckland, initially for 72 hours, the next scheduled race day has been postponed and the event will not be open to the public during this time," a statement said.
"America's Cup Event will be working with the authorities and relevant agencies over the next few days to work through the ongoing ramifications."
Ineos Team UK skipper Sir Ben Ainslie backed the decision.
"We will do whatever the authorities advise us to do. Of course it's more important that people are safe and healthy, so we'll just see what happens.
"It's bad news, it's a timely reminder of what the world's going through isn't it? We're very fortunate to be out here doing a yacht race which we all love, so it's a difficult situation."
Luna Rossa hold a 4-0 lead in the best-of-13 series, with two races a day having been scheduled for Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and one next Monday.
With Luna Rossa only needing three more wins for victory, it is possible, depending on lockdown restrictions, that the final could still conclude within that scheduled timeframe.
However, with the level three restrictions set to be reviewed regularly, it is yet to be decided when racing will continue.
America'''s Cup 2021: Prada Cup final postponed due to Auckland Covid-19 lockdown - NZ Herald
Currently, it's a 3 day lockdown in Auckland. Bit of a bugger, as was going to watch it on the water on Wednesday. I think Sir Ben would be quietly happy with the extra time.
The plucky backs to the wall Brits edged race 6 to finally get a point on the board but go into tomorrow knowing that two defeats hands victory to Luna Rossa.
Coverage starts on Sky Sports at 3am UK.
36th America's Cup: INEOS TEAM UK secure vital race victory in PRADA Cup Final series | Sailing News | Sky Sports
Racing underway, and Luna Rossa is just pulling away in the first race of the day. It's simply a faster boat.
Unless something drastic happens they should seal their place in the America's Cup within hours.
Luna Rossa just ground them down in both races.
Well played.
For Sir Ben it's back to the Yacht Club dinner speaking circuit.
So the Americas Cup in March will be contested by the Italians and the Kiwis.
Interesting that the Kiwis were out testing their boat in todays conditions rather than staying at home watching the racing.
They're (Kiwi 'sources') saying that they have 2-3 knots on the Italian boat in any condition
Oooo it's started!
Emirates NZ 1-0 Luna Rossa (-0.31secs)
Race two starts in five minutes!
First to seven wins.
Emirates NZ 1-1 Luna Rossa
Luna Rossa wins race two by seven seconds. They had a 250m+ lead at one point, NZ really ground them down in the second half.
Looks like we have some great racing to look forward to.
No racing tomorrow, the schedule is two races per day for March 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and then one on March 17 or until a team reaches seven wins.
Coverage on Sky Sports Mix.
This is very nip and tuck and it seems mistakes cost dear.
Luna Rossa won the first race this morning by 37secs but Emirates NZ powered back to win the next by over a minute.
It's 2-2 and quite the series we have on our hands.
2-2 and the Kiwis are getting nervous after being all high and mighty about winning 7-0
Which Kiwis have been all high about mighty about winning 7-0?
The team are professionals and they saw how the Italians put the UK team to the sword. There is no fucking chance they went into this expecting plain sailing, excuse the pun.
Are you perhaps talking about witless bloggers or something?
Just people rooting for their own team. Normally it's the people that have no idea...like me!
Never heard Team NZ talking about 7-Nil. That's either in the media or individuals. The company that I work for is knee deep in all the teams.
No, thats true . . .
Yup, absolutely - not the team
I have to admit that it is fun though to remind Kiwis that not only is Luna Rossa an Italian boat but that is skippered by an Aussie, Spithill, who last took the trophy from Kiwis.
The vitriol is two-fold; people rooting for their team and Spithill being an Aussie - by all accounts a nicer guy you could not meet.
I'm kind of torn. Happy that Luna Rossa beat Team UK . . . and I'd like to see the Kiwis win but being a foreigner in uNZud the parochialism is so intense that I'm going for the Italians.
Anyway, we're either at the race today or watching local cricket while having a nice lunch . . . enjoying one of the last fine summer days
The Luna Rossa guys are a good bunch. They just gave one of the guys at work a box of Reds from Bertellis vineyard. Can't all be bad...
As for Spithill, he's an OK guy apparently, but because he's Australian, he's a cock.
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