Luna Rossa have not lost hope of winning the America's Cup despite falling 3-0 down to Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Cup (LVC) final.
The winners of the first-to-five series will challenge America's Cup holders Alinghi of Switzerland for sailing's most coveted trophy later this month.
"They have not won yet," said Luna Rossa skipper Francesco de Angelis.
"Naturally no one is satisfied with this situation. But we have to keep working.
"We can do a lot better. We have to be perfect from now on. You don't do the sums until the end of the competition".
Sunday's defeat, which left the Italian team 3-0 down, was the most demoralizing so far.
For the first time in the LVC final series, Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill outsmarted the Kiwis in the pre-start manoeuvring and was in control at the start line.
But Luna Rossa opted to take the left side of the course, when the wind turned out to be better on the right, and Team New Zealand cruised into the lead.
The Kiwis went on to win by one minute 38 seconds, a huge margin that suggests the wind was not the only factor at play.
Many pundits say it is proof that New Zealand's NZL92 yacht is simply faster than Luna Rossa's ITA94 - a claim the team rejects.
"We continue to believe we can win, although it will be really tough," said Luna Rossa's Massimiliano Sirena.
"We are not inferior to them and we'll show it".
Fortunately for Luna Rossa, Monday is a rest day.
This gives the Italians time to make some technical adjustments to the yacht and assess what they can do from a tactical point of view to get back into the series.
Racing resumes Tuesday.
Luna Rossa risk a repeat of the 2000 America's Cup match race, when they were whitewashed 5-0 by then holders New Zealand after winning the LVC at the first attempt.
The Kiwis were on the receiving end of a whitewash three years later when losing the trophy to Alinghi.
Luna Rossa's poor form up to now in the LVC final is a surprise, as they thrashed highly-fancied America team BMW Oracle 5-1 in the semis.
The Kiwis needed one race more to beat Spain's Desafio Espanol (5-2), who on paper were the weakest of the semi-finalists.
Alinghi await the LVC winner in the 2007 America's Cup match race, another first-to-five series, which starts June 23.
