A lightning strike during an America's Cup qualifying contest between New Zealand and Italy on Tuesday forced officials to abandon racing for the day. The incident occurred while Italy was leading New Zealand, who are not required to qualify as holders of the "Auld Mug."

The race was taking place in sleek, carbon-fiber AC75s capable of speeds exceeding 40 knots. Italy had gained an early lead and was awarded the victory when New Zealand withdrew after the near lightning strike.

With deteriorating weather conditions, officials decided to cancel further racing for the day. Five challengers for the America's Cup – Britain, France, Italy, the United States, and Switzerland – are participating in the round-robin stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The four surviving teams will advance to the semi-finals, with the winner facing New Zealand for the oldest international sporting trophy.

In another race on Tuesday, Switzerland secured their first win of the series against France, who encountered technical issues. The leaderboard, excluding New Zealand, is led by Italy with four wins, followed by Britain with three, the U.S. with two, and Switzerland and France with one each.