America's Cup PR2 Day 2: Emirates Team New Zealand hold second after a chaotic day in Naples

Day 2 of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples delivered intense AC40 fleet racing across the Bay of Naples. The Race Village hosted more than 65,000 spectators as six fleet races were completed in a north-easterly flow that built into a sea breeze. Wind speeds were recorded around 15–18 knots when the race committee started the programme.

Two Emirates Team New Zealand boats competed: the senior team helmed by Nathan Outteridge and the Women & Youth entry co-helmed by Jake Pye. Both crews aimed for consistency, but close fleet racing, congested mark roundings and penalties made consistency hard to achieve.

• Race 4: Outteridge drew a windward-boat penalty on Luna Rossa at the start but initially found the left-hand lane and led into the first phases of the race. A subsequent penalty pushed the senior boat back. Congestion at the first gate opened lanes through the fleet that benefited both Kiwi entries. Outteridge finished second and Jake Pye's crew took fourth.

• Race 6: Outteridge started on port and ducked the fleet to access the right side. That choice placed his boat around the top mark in second. After an upwind battle the recovered French boat took the win, with Emirates Team New Zealand second. The Women & Youth crew fell to ninth in this race.

After Day 2 the standings placed Outteridge's senior team second on 43 points, eight points behind leader Luna Rossa. Tudor Team Alinghi sat third on 38 points and Luna Rossa Women & Youth fourth on 35 points. The Preliminary Regatta concludes the following day with two fleet races, followed by a Match Race Final between the top two teams to decide the overall winner.

The day showed how small events — start tactics, wind shifts, penalties and traffic at marks — can swing fleet racing outcomes quickly. The French team's capsize in Race 5 was decisive for that result, while penalties and lane choice shaped finishing positions across multiple races. For Emirates Team New Zealand, the performances combined highs (a win and multiple podiums) with setbacks (penalties and a low finishing place), leaving them well positioned but still chasing the leader.

Practical takeaways for following the regatta

• Watch starts and penalties: they repeatedly changed race dynamics and finishing order.
• Track wind shifts and side biases: the right and left sides of the course paid differently across races.
• Expect the Match Race Final to magnify small tactical differences between the top two teams, given the tight points spread going into the final day.

Day 3 will decide the Preliminary Regatta winner: two fleet races to finalize the top two, then a one-on-one Match Race Final to determine the champion in Naples.