The already protracted Louis Vuitton Cup came to a long understood denouement. Emirates Team New Zealand defeated Italy's Luna Rossa 8-1. For the decisive race, the local weather had a couple of surprises in store for the athletes - brisk winds and thick fog. Visibility was very poor, and helicopter TV crews wasted their bread on the day in vain - there was no way to film from above.
«It is a little different when you cannot see the other boat in the pre-start fight»," remarked New Zealand skipper Dean Barker after the race. Different, but not quite - despite «blind start», Team New Zealand were 16 seconds ahead of the Italians by the first mark, and the gap widened with each time. It was different only once when AC72 New Zealand were disqualified and the Italians earned the only point.
The Kiwis will take on Team Oracle USA for the America's Cup «» on September 7.
