Louis Vuitton Cup Final Day 4 - The Goldilocks Zone
by Mark Jardine 30 Sep 14:47 BST
30 September 2024
Sometimes we've seen the breeze in Barcelona being too light. Sometimes, like on Sunday, it has been too strong. On Monday it was just right.
No delays, straight into racing.
We've seen there's nothing between these two teams, so a tension-filled watch was a given.
Broadcast
I still feel that displaying the wind speed more often would be beneficial. We know that they can superimpose the wind speed and direction graphic on the water, and it gives us, the viewer, so much more insight.
Race 5: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. INEOS Britannia
Luna Rossa looked like they had decent control of the start, with INEOS Britannia relatively late into the start box, until the Italians lost control of the rudder while luffing up through their opponent's dirty air, handing the British a hundred metre lead off the line.
The British then kept a loose cover on the Italians, concentrating more on their own strategy and rounding the windward gate five seconds in the lead.
The lead waxed and waned downwind, with Luna Rossa rounding the leeward gate six seconds behind, choosing the opposite gate to INEOS Britannia and going out to the right.
The British again chose their own strategy over a direct cover until the final tack into the second windward gate, leading by seven seconds and both rounding the same buoy.
The communication on board INEOS Britannia sounded noticeably less frenetic than yesterday. Luna Rossa's comms were as calm as always, despite being the trailing boat.
At the halfway point of the race the British lead had extended to 11 seconds.
As British coach Rob Wilson said during the race, "We just wanted to get on with our processes and get on with our own race. They're all business today, that's for sure."
Luna Rossa closed the gap to just five seconds at the third windward gate, as INEOS Britannia just couldn't shake them off their tail.
The British performance was composed until they rounded the final leeward gate, where they slid sideways, only just getting the boat back in control. Their lead was reduced to just 35 metres.
Italian coach Philippe Presti said, "Super tight. I think the boys did well to keep the game alive, and I'm hopeful we can get an opportunity."
But INEOS Britannia had switched to defensive mode, tacking on Luna Rossa through every tack, leading Jimmy Spithill to call it "damage limitation mode" as they approached the final windward gate, where the British rounded eight seconds ahead.
The British made no mistake on the final downwind leg to win by 12 seconds.
As legendary Australian sailor Glenn Ashby said on the broadcast, "A real lesson in keeping your elbows out and your opponent behind you."
A calmer-sounding Ben Ainslie said after the race, "We take each race as it comes to us. We're up against a class team in Luna Rossa... it's going to be another epic this second race. It'll be great if we can get another win on the board."
Race 6: INEOS Britannia vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
Both teams entered the start area slightly late, with INEOS Britannia choosing the loop around early, going on the attack and gybing in front of their opponent, but Luna Rossa were quick to head up, leaving a gap between the boats as they approached the line.
Both boats crossed the start line at pace, with the British boat taking a high mode to leeward and forcing the Italians to tack earlier than they'd have liked.
On the next engagement, INEOS Britannia tacked just beneath Luna Rossa, leading to a drag race on starboard tack across the course between the boundaries.
Both boats tacked in unison on the lay line, with the advantage going to the Italians, rounding the first windward gate four seconds in the lead.
Downwind INEOS Britannia were forced to sail in Luna Rossa's disturbed air, but the lead was only extended to six seconds at the first leeward gate.
The British tacked off early to try and clear their air, but the lead was now 150 metres thanks to their tight leeward mark rounding.
At the second windward gate INEOS Britannia went for a tack and bear away to try and split from Luna Rossa, but the lead was now 12 seconds. The split was a risk, but worth taking to try and gain an advantage. It didn't pay off, with the Italians rounding the second leeward gate 13 seconds ahead, but it was worth a go.
Italian coach Philippe Presti was pleased with Luna Rossa's conservative approach, "You don't need to kill the start to gain control. I'm super-pleased with how this is unfolding. A point is a point. It's the last point of the series that you want to win!"
At the third windward gate Luna Rossa had extended their lead to 17 seconds, with INEOS Britannia again choosing the opposite buoy to round.
The Italians looked in control, but as Ben Ainslie put it, "Just one mistake, we've got to keep pushing." His team were clearly listening, with the deficit reduced to 13 seconds at the third leeward gate.
Luna Rossa weren't feeling charitable though, and calmly executed their processes and game plan, extending to 19 seconds again at the final windward gate,smoothly sailing the silver bullet to win by 17 seconds, evening up the score again at 3-3.
It still looks like Luna Rossa is slightly quicker upwind, while INEOS Britannia has the edge downwind, but the difference in performance is minimal, and it's the sailing, in particular the start, which is deciding these races.
While it's been extraordinarily exciting to watch, we haven't yet seen a lead change in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final in a completed race.