American Magic's repair job and Luna Rossa's steady boat development will be put to the test in a diverse range of conditions during the America's Cup Challenger Selection Series semi-finals.
Photo: Studio Borlenghi
The last time American Magic and Luna Rossa went head-to-head on the Waitemata Harbour it ended in the American's memorable capsize.
This time there is even more on the line.
The winner of the best-of-seven semis stays in Auckland to take on Team UK in the challenger series finals, while the loser heads home after a failed multi-million dollar campaign.
Neither team might have their AC75 exactly how they want it but they have to race with what they have.
The Italians unsuccessfully battled against the race committee's interpretation of the AC75 class rule all week.
During round robin racing Luna Rossa attempted to move the backstays that are attached to the mast and stern of the boat to inside their mast, but the rules committee found this did not meet the class rule requirements.
In a last-ditch attempt to turn the outcome in their favour, Luna Rossa claimed the rules committee had overstepped their jurisdiction and asked the Arbitration Panel for relief before Friday's racing - which was denied.
The challengers and defender weighed in on the saga and the Americans were particularly cutting in their response.
"American Magic considers that the submission by Luna Rossa Challenge is frivolous, has no merit in substance, is against the pristine mandate of the Rules, and respectfully requests the Arbitration Panel to dismiss the application by Luna Rossa Challenge with the imposition of the complete costs of these proceedings."
The Americans have won the battle off the water but questions remain about whether their repaired boat is up to the task of getting the necessary four wins against Luna Rossa.
American Magic's boat Patriot has undergone a major rebuild after a capsize during round robin racing, which left it with a large hole in the hull, with the syndicate also having to replace much of the electrical gear.
The team did hours of test runs over Wednesday and Thursday to come to grips with their new set-up but the true test will come in race conditions.
The new paintwork on American Magic acknowledging those who helped during the capsize and repairs. Photo: Photosport
American Magic's flight controller Andrew Campbell said they still believed they could win even though they haven't had much time to sail their boat now dubbed Patriot 2.0.
"We're still here and the beauty of it is we're still in a place where we can win the regatta," Campbell said.
"We're on the back foot as far as the results are concerned but we're starting fresh this weekend and we're going to go out and we need to win four races and move forward from there."
Luna Rossa afterguard Vasco Vascotto said it would be "dangerous" to write off the resurgent Americans.
"I'm sure that American Magic boat will be ready, they work three years in order to win the America's Cup and Friday they still have that plan," Vascotto said.
Regatta director Iain Murray said the teams and race organisers will have some decisions to make with regards to the weather conditions across the semi-finals racing.
"Probably the most threatening thing right now is the upper wind limit, some of the forecasts have got the wind approaching [21 knots], and then on Saturday the breeze retreats to the east and is much more light and variable so we have the opposite problem to Friday," Murray said.
"All three days are going to present some kind of challenge in one form of condition or another."
The races could be spread around the harbour with Murray picking Friday's two scheduled races to take place off North Head and a move to off Browns Island, a location that all teams have used a lot for training, for Saturday's races.
The Browns Island course is a new addition to Murray's options which he brought into effect in the last round, but has yet to be used for racing.
Auckland Anniversary Day on Monday posed a problem for the best of seven semi-finals.
Up to six races are scheduled over Friday, Saturday and Sunday but if the racing is close and a seventh - and deciding - race is needed it will be held on Tuesday.
"The reason I understand why Monday is not the reserve day is because it's a public holiday and the expected traffic out on the water is not on the event permit," Murray said.
"So I think to try to keep that area free that decision was made a long time ago to make the reserve day Tuesday."
With so much on the line during the semi-final series, neither team is willing to offer their opponent an edge.
The ability for teams to call for a 15-mintue delay to the start of racing to fix any onboard issues has been scrapped.
Team UK made the most of the rule, which was trialed during the last round robin stage of the challenger series, to fix their cunningham before their final race win against Luna Rossa.
Murray said the trial is now over because Luna Rossa and American Magic did not support it continuing.
"It becomes more cut-throat, if you've got a problem you've got to deal with it and race," Murray said.