America’s Cup 2021 now being streamed on Kayo

A new era of America’s Cup broadcasting is coming, and sailing fans will get closer to the action than ever before for free.

Welcome to a new era of America’s Cup broadcasting, taking you so close to the action you’ll be downing Travacalm with ginger tea as you ride the highs.

Almost 30 years after Ben Lexcen designed Australia’s winning winged keel and changed the sport forever, this year’s event has taken that concept to a whole new level.

The boats themselves, eight storeys tall and the quickest ever-raced for an America’s Cup, remain the stars of the show.

And here’s a quick snapshot of the who, what and where:

• Italian challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli will race defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the 36th match up for the prestigious America’s Cup;

• The best of 13 races best today and both will be sailing their version of an AC75 – a 75ft (23m) monohull with hydraulicfoils, capable of around 100 kilometres per hour;

• The boats have no keel – a revolutionary design and particularly foreign to an Aussie public seduced by the romance of Ben Lexcen’s winged keel in 1983.

Prada Luna Rossa warms up for race seven during of the 2021 Prada Cup Final against INEOS Team UK on Auckland Harbour on February 21, 2021 in Auckland. Picture: Getty

Ahead of this month’s racing, Luna Rossa helmsman and Sydneysider Jimmy Spithill (who skippered Oracle Team USA to victory in 2013), predicts big things from these new monsters of the deep.

“It’s the first time there’s ever been a boat like this and it really is a machine,” he tells The BINGE Guide.

“It’s very powerful, very physical, very fast – and will hopefully produce some incredible racing. For example, if the boat is doing 40 knots in 20 knots of wind, on board you feel 60 knots (111km/h) and you’re getting hit with water at that speed … it’s like you’re in a hurricane,” he explains.

Those without sea legs have been gifted an on-board ride courtesy of body cameras, drones, and an on-board media pole on each boat that transmits video, audio and data.

The technology reveals how fast the hydrofoil monohulls are moving, how high they are above the water, and how much they are tipped forward and back.

And the crew themselves aboard challenger Luna Rossa and defender Emirates Team New Zealand have already been tuning in.

Luna Rossa has been watching Team New Zealand watching them during the challenger series – and now both can be watched by us.

Tom Slingsby ahead of round one of the SailGP on Sydney Harbour last year.

Sailing great Tom Slingsby, who appears on the America’s Cup Kayo podcast with Fox Sports presenter Tony Squires, was part of the victorious Oracle Team alongside Spithill.

The Olympic gold medallist credits his former skipper Spithill as the X-factor to that win and his role in today’s main race.

“It’s not a surprise that these two are lining up for the final,” Slingsby says, explaining ‘they have been the two best teams.”

“If the boat speeds are close, the Italians could win. Jimmy Spithill, the Luna Rossa helmsman, could provide the big difference by winning the starts,” he suggests.

“He will back himself and if he wins the start, he won’t give NZ a look in. We call it the suffocation method – he will give Team NZ no opportunities,” Slingsby says.

“He’s very good at boat handling and maneuverability, and he backs his team. It’s amazing how much improvement you have and what you can learn in the final month of racing.”

The America’s Cup runs on a four-year cycle, Slingsby explains, “so you design and train with your crew in another country and then when the boats get up close and see each other, you can see what they did better and what you can improve on. There is no doubt that Team NZ has been watching the telecasts closely and looking at all the on-board footage.

“They’d be watching the Luna Rossa’s playbook, how the crew moves and their boat handling. They’d be watching how the foils go up and down … I actually think NZ has the faster boat. But if it’s close, and Jimmy wins the start, the Italians could win.”

In an earlier interview, Spithill acknowledged the task ahead of him: “To win for Italy for the first time would be a dream. Italians are passionate about sailing, especially the America’s Cup, and most especially Luna Rossa. It would be incredible, but the job isn’t done yet.”

*The America’s Cup match race series will be available on Kayo Freebies, live and on-demand.

KAYO FREEBIES: WHAT YOU GET

• Stream a selection of live sports, highlights, entertainment shows and documentaries for free on Kayo Freebies

• Content available on Kayo Freebies will be marked ‘FREEBIE’ and available to stream online through kayosports.com.au/freebies and the Kayo Sports App

• Sports fans can access Kayo Freebies simply by downloading the App or visiting the website and registering an account

• No credit card details required, sign up and start streaming instantly.

Originally published as America’s Cup 2021 now being streamed on Kayo