Defending champion Team New Zealand, after success with traditional displacement yachts, pioneered foiling in the America's Cup with a prototype catamaran developed in 2012. The New Zealanders have remained at the forefront of research and development, making them short-priced favourites in the best-of-13 America's Cup final. Spithill said his team was match-fit, while Team NZ had not raced competitively since late December, despite logging hundreds of hours' practice. In general, Luna Rossa is seen as strong in lighter winds, while Team NZ has the better overall package. Former round-the-world yachtsman Knut Frostad, whose company Navico produced the navigation systems used by several America's Cup teams, said Team NZ appeared to have an edge.

Source: News 24 March 08, 2021 10:07 UTC