Minutes after Italy's Luna Rossa sailed across the finish line to earn a spot in the America's Cup match, Francesco Bruni popped up from the port cockpit, crossed over to the starboard side of the stylish black boat, gave a double thumbs up and hugged co-helmsman Jimmy Spithill.

Australia Spithill was matter-of-fact. Italian Bruni was ecstatic.

"Fantastico, fantastico, bellissimo, bellissimo (fantastic, fantastic, very beautiful, very beautiful)," Bruni shouted.

"We are different, Australians and Italians, very different."

Different, yes, but they've formed quite the tandem in steering Luna Rossa into the 36th America's Cup match against defending champions Team New Zealand.

Delayed four days by a small community outbreak of COVID-19, the best-of-13 match will begin on Wednesday.

Ultimately, the fastest boat will win the Auld Mug.

But Luna Rossa has made a splash with its unique dual helmsman system, to reduce drag.

Devised in the early days of the campaign, Luna Rossa's system puts the boat in the hands of two of the world's best sailors - Bruni steers on port tack and Spithill steers on starboard tack - as the powerful 75-foot yacht speeds over the Hauraki Gulf on hydrofoils.

"I think so far it's working," Spithill said.

"We're always trying to improve it. We're just trying to make it as efficient as we can."

One of the areas where the Italian challengers are perceived to have an edge is that they have been race-hardened in the challenger series, while Team New Zealand have been limited to training this year.

Another is that Luna Rossa may have the edge in light winds, although skipper Peter Burling said the Kiwis team have improved in that area and have done "everything we can to get the fastest package possible".

"You talk to anybody about America's Cup racing and if you're not fast enough, you're not in the yacht race," Burling said a day before racing commences.

"Looking across the way, the Italians have put together a very nice package as well and that's what makes it so exciting come tomorrow."