Team NZ sits second after opening day in Naples regatta
Thursday 24 September 2026 · 3 outlets · 6 reports · updated In this story Team New Zealand, Peter Burling, Luna Rossa
Luna Rossa leads the nine-boat America's Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples after the first day of racing. Team New Zealand sits in second place following a chaotic opening day marked by wind delays and abandoned races. ARC Team USA secured a debut win in the first race.
Key facts
6 facts
- Luna Rossa leads the nine-boat regatta with 19 points
- Team New Zealand is in second place with 14 points
- ARC Team USA won the first race
- The event is being held in Naples, Italy
- The regatta uses AC40 boats
- La Roche-Posay Racing capsized during the second race
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
Luna Rossa leads the nine-boat America's Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples after the first day of racing. Peter Burling's crew won the second race and finished second in the first race, earning 19 points. Team New Zealand sits in second place on the scoreboard with 14 points following a fifth and third place finish.
The opening day was marked by delays and abandoned starts due to a lack of wind. Thunderstorms also rolled through earlier in the morning, causing the first race to be delayed by several hours. Only two of the three scheduled races were completed.
ARC Team USA secured a debut win in the first race, despite helmsman Harry Melges racing with a broken foot. The Americans finished 18 seconds ahead of Luna Rossa in that race. In the second race, Switzerland's Tudor Team Alinghi finished second.
France's La Roche-Posay Racing provided a dramatic moment when the boat nosedived and capsized at the start of the second race. The crew was unhurt and the boat was righted quickly.
The regatta features AC40 boats and the top two boats after eight fleet races will compete in a match race final. Organisers aim to complete four races on Sunday morning.
How it developed
- Sat 26 Sep, 7:20pmThunderstorms were noted as a cause for the initial delays.
Where reports differ
- One report notes the first race was delayed by more than two hours, while another mentions it was delayed by several hours due to thunderstorms.
Compiled from reports by Stuff, RNZ and 1News.
