3.00pm
Prada picked up their third win in two days, beating Team Dennis Conner this afternoon, to jump into a two-way tie for 3rd place on the Louis Vuitton Cup standings.
A lively pre-start saw Prada's Rod Davis win the favoured pin end.
That proved pivotal on the first beat as a left-hand shift gave Prada's Luna Rossa ITA-74 and skipper Francesco de Angelis an early advantage on the inside.
Ken Read and crew of Stars & Stripes USA-66 closed up on the first run to round just 11 seconds behind the Italians, and it appeared that a furious duel was about to ensue.
But Luna Rossa tactician Torben Grael protected the left side of the beat and his team was rewarded with another left-hand shift.
Sailing again on the inside of Stars & Stripes in another lift, Luna Rossa opened a 29 second lead halfway through the race and never looked back.
Yesterday Prada beat countrymen Mascalzone Latino, finally bringing the first round of the Louis Vuitton challenger series to a close. They followed that up with a win over Oracle BMW Racing later in the afternoon.
Winds: NNE 8-13k
Winning margin: 00.41
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
Prada jumps up the standings with win over Stars & Stripes
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