The 36th America’s Cup will pit race-hardened challenger Luna Rossa against defender Team New Zealand which has largely worked in isolation evolving its raceboat. READ MORE:* America's Cup: The speed equation - Team New Zealand will know more than Luna Rossa* America's Cup: Luna Rossa will win Prada Cup final* America's Cup: Luna Rossa sense Team New Zealand are vulnerableDUNCAN JOHNSTONE (Stuff senior sports reporter covering the cup since 2000)LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff Duncan Johnstone is Stuff’s Senior Sports Journalist, and covered his first America's cup in 2000Prediction: Team New ZealandTeam New Zealand win comfortably. But to be completely honest - and it's not the cheering that makes me say this - since the beginning of this America's Cup campaign I've seen something different in the eyes of Italian sailors. But, we haven’t seen them race since before Christmas which in the America's Cup world where the pace of development is jaw dropping, is a long time ago. Luna Rossa will certainly be strong from the outset, tactically and around the course, because of their constant racing.

Source: Stuff February 27, 2021 15:56 UTC