Competing for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Emirates Team New Zealand won the most coveted Louis Vuitton Trophy (LVT) on 21 March in Auckland. The team defeated the Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, which earlier in February represented Club Nautico di Roma at the Challenger of Record for the 34th America’s Cup. The water racing competition, which lasted for two weeks, was sailed using 82-foot-long America’s Cup yachts with 17 crew members.

To reach the finals, the Mascalzone Latino Audi Team first defeated San Francisco captain Paul Cayard in the semis. Meanwhile, climbing their way to the finals, Emirates Team New Zealand competed and won against another Italian team Azzurra.

New Zealand played host to the America’s Cup in 2000 and 2003. A number of people were lodged on the shore of the Viaduct Basin and on every vantage point just to watch the event. The crowd cheered the victorious Mascalzone Latino Audi yacht as it docked at Market Square, while its crew held a banner that read: ‘Thank you New Zealand’.

The next LVT event is scheduled in May at Sardinia. One team which failed to join the Auckland race, BMW Oracle Racing, is now preparing to compete in Sardinia.