SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Emirates Team New Zealand beat Italy’s Luna Rossa by 3 minutes, 2 1 seconds in their final meeting in the round-robins in the America’s Cup challenger trials Sunday on San Francisco Bay.
The Kiwis already had clinched the right to advance straight to the Louis Vuitton Cup finals and leave Luna Rossa to face Artemis Racing of Sweden in the semifinals starting Aug. 6.
Team New Zealand, led by skipper Dean Barker, had a slight lead at the start and built its lead at every turning mark on the seven-leg course. Team New Zealand went 5-0 against the Italians, including the opening race that Italy boycotted due to a rules spat.
The Louis Vuitton Cup winner advances to face defending champion Oracle Team USA in the 34th America’s Cup starting Sept. 7.
