Watch the next stage of the 36th American Cup challenge this weekend, as Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS TEAM UK are expected to be the first to advance to the PRADA Cup final; there will be live action on Sky Sports Mix from 2am on Saturday, again at 9am
With Emma Thurston
Last Updated: 22/01/21 2:08 pm
Jimmy Spithill can’t wait for race day against INEOS TEAM UK (Image Credit – COR 36 | Studio Borlenghi)
Jimmy Spithill, co – director of Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, says the Italian team is fully focused ahead of Saturday ‘s PRADA Cup race and no one should be surprised by the turn and turn of the American Cup competition .
Spithill was speaking ahead of the final weekend of match racing in the PRADA Cup Rounds. The PRADA Cup is the series that needs to be won in order for one team to advance to the final game of the American Cup against the defender, Team Emirates New Zealand.
It usually features all opponents – INEOS TEAM UK, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, and New York Yacht Club American Magic. However, this weekend only the British and Italian costumes will compete after the American drama overflowed in PATRIOT.
The series is divided into a set of round robin races, semi-finals and finals.
The winner of the round robbers goes straight into the PRADA Cup final and at the moment, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – rivals Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS TEAM UK – are in the driving seat.
The British outfit has won all four of its match races, and if they win on Saturday, they will advance to the PRADA Cup final and make Sunday’s race useless.
PRADA Cup – Robins Round Three and Four – Race schedule
| Saturday, January 23rd | Robin Three Round – Race Two | Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs INEOS TEAM UK | Live on Sky Sports Mix at 2am and 9am |
| Sunday, January 24th | Round Four Robin – Race Two | TEAM INEOS UK vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli | Live on Sky Sports Mix at 2am and 8am |
For Spithill and the Italian team, that equation has narrowed the focus, as the manager made clear during the last day of media coverage on Friday.
“The goal of the American Cup is to grow fast, and win races,” Spithill said.
“We’re putting our time and energy into that. We don’t have to think about the whole weekend, we have to focus on tomorrow. We’re focused on going to -out there, implementing and benefiting under the belt. “
PRADA Cup – Round Robins – Standard Position
| Winners | Call | Total | |
| TEAM INEOS UK | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| American Magic New York Yacht Club | 0 | 4 | 0 |
“The results speak, don’t they? So you have to give your hat to the British, but don’t be surprised in the American Cup. Change can happen very quickly,” he said.
“You only have to look back at that Christmas Regatta, where the teams were piling up then and what the experts and bookies were predicting, check it out now! What has it changed? I would say it has been changed.
Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS TEAM UK are ready for Saturday’s top match races (Image credit – COR 36 | Studio Borlenghi)
“So, never be surprised … things can change quickly in the American Cup. On Saturday, the whole focus is on one thing and that goes out there and wins. “
Spithill also took the time to point out that Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has continued to work hard on improving their boat in the days since the last series of races.
“It’s so hard to go through it all [the changes], “he said.
“There is physical hardware that you can see and also all the software and systems are under development under the device ‘s cap. It is a continuation and it will never stop.
“I can’t wait [to race], “Spithill has come to an end.” I have had good racing over the years with Ben (Ainslie) and some of the boys on his team. It’s Saturday, on Course C in the stadium, it doesn’t get any better than that! “
Enjoy every minute of the American Cup challenge, live on Sky Sports. Coverage continues with the fourth day of Saturday’s PRADA Cup at 2am on Sky Sports Mix, again at 9am.