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(Reuters) - America's
Cup organisers said on Thursday the Challenger Series final
between Luna Rossa and INEOS Team UK will resume this weekend
without spectators as Auckland remains under COVID-19
restrictions.
Racing on Wednesday was postponed after New Zealand Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday announced a three-day lockdown
in Auckland after three COVID-19 cases emerged, the first local
infections since late January.
New Zealand began easing the restrictions at midnight on
Wednesday but with its largest city still at a Level 2 alert
America's Cup Events (ACE) sought to delay racing until the
restrictions were lifted further.
Luna Rossa, who hold a 4-0 lead over INEOS and need just three
more wins to earn the right to face Team New Zealand for the
America's Cup, had rejected the proposal, ACE said in a
statement
https://www.americascup.com/
en/news/1085_ACE-CURRENT-RACE-SCHEDULE-UPDATE released on
Thursday.
The Italian team on Wednesday said it wanted the series to
resume even if it meant races would be held "behind closed
doors" and that the title should be awarded to the winner or
points leader by Feb. 24.
ACE said the Italians were "inflexible to a change" in terms of
the race schedule. As Challenger of Record, the rules cannot be
changed without Luna Rossa's approval.
"This is a disappointing situation, it is my responsibility to
do my best to run the event with the best interests of the
public and all stakeholders in mind," ACE Chair Tina Symmans
said.
"So with the current impasse, while not agreeing with the
Challenger of Record, we want to see the regatta completed on
the water."
Two courses have been ruled out for the remainder of the series,
to mitigate any chance of large public gatherings on the shore.
INEOS said they would be ready to compete this weekend.
"Whilst INEOS Team UK has not been consulted, we fully respect
and will abide by the decision of ACE and will be ready to race
as requested," they said in a statement.
The America's Cup is due to start on March 6.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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