First scores on the board

Best of seven-race quarter finals start in Auckland

Prada versus Alinghi

At the first windward mark, Prada was just 10 seconds behind after a bad tack on Alinghi lost them ground. Prada quickly put Alinghi under serious pressure.

Having struggled for pace upwind, Prada was clearly the quicker boat downwind and sat on Alinghi's stern. A misjudgment on the Italian boat, however, resulted in a collision and Luna Rossa received a penalty.

Although Alinghi held Prada off, the leeward mark rounding delta was just 6 seconds. By the weather mark just 8 seconds separated the boats with Alinghi still ahead. On this downwind leg, Prada showed her pace again, but this time she managed to roll Alinghi, holding the Swiss out at the leeward mark to round 13 seconds ahead.

But, again, Alinghi’s upwind speed was telling and the Swiss regained the lead and held it to the finish. There was further drama at the finish when Prada let their concentration slip just seconds before clearing their penalty on the line as they trawled their kite and had to blow the lines to avoid damaging the mast.

Prada crew line up
Bowman Paolo Bassani
Mid Bowman Massimiliano Sirena
Mastman Simone De Mari
Pitman Cristian Griggio
Left Grinder Massimo Galli
Right Grinder Romolo Ranieri
Upwind Trimmer Carter Perrin
Downwind Trimmer Andrew Hemmings
Mainsail Trimmer Sean Clarkson
Center Grinder Massimo Gherarducci
Helmsman Francesco de Angelis
Tactician Torben Grael
Afterguard Rod Davis
Downwind Grinder Daniele Bresciano
Strategist Michele Ivaldi
Navigator Matteo Plazzi

Alinghi crew line up
Foredeck Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyzen
Foredeck Curtis Blewett
Mastman Francesco Rapetti
Pitman Josh Belsky
Grinder Enrico De Maria
Grinder John Barnitt
Genoa Trimmer Simon Daubney
Trimmer Richard Bouzaid
Grinder Christian Karcher
Mainsail Traveller Murray Jones
Mainsail Trimmer Warwick Fleury
Grinder Thierry Chappet
Strategist Jochen Schuemann
Navigator Ernesto Bertarelli
Tactician Brad Butterworth
Helmsman/Skipper Russell Coutts