Louis Vuitton Cup Day 3: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli shows powerful form winning both matches
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 31 Aug 2024 19:46 BST
31 August 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. New York Yacht Club American Magic on Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin 1 Day 3 © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
Luna Rossa takes two more important points after winning over American Magic and INEOS Britannia. The Italian challenger once again proved the great potential of a boat and a crew that are impressive in any weather condition.
With five matches scheduled, including the one between USA and ITA that had been postponed yesterday due to lack of wind, the third day of the Round Robins of the Louis Vuitton Cup was a "tour de force" for both teams and the committee. An easterly wind of about 8 knots allowed all the races to take place and provided a breathtaking show for the many spectator boats out on the water. Luna Rossa delivered two well-polished executions, despite the very demanding effort for the sailing team as they raced in two matches with over two hours of lay time between the first and the second.
"Anyone who comes from the Olympic Classes knows that you need to have a lot of patience in this sport," said trimmer Umberto Molineris. "It's important not to lose concentration during breaks; you need to know when to press the off button to rest and when to turn it back on and be ready and sharp to start racing again."
Enrico Voltolini, a seasoned sailor and now a cyclor onboard Luna Rossa, agrees. "Waiting is exhausting, especially when it's hot and you must take long breaks between two races, but we're used to it. Physically, as cyclors we must always be able to give our best. That's why, in addition to the routine warm-up before boarding we have another one during a break, before starting the next race."
MATCH #7 - ITA vs USA
Fans of pure match racing, featuring close crossings, tacking duels, and tight covering, were thrilled by the encounter between Luna Rossa and NYYC American Magic. The race remained close until the finish line, with the Italian crew securing its win by a margin of 24 seconds. Luna Rossa had a strong and decisive start, tacking right after crossing the line.
An issue with the windward foil caused them to lose precious seconds, allowing the Americans to gain a slight lead. Luna Rossa stayed close to its opponents, engaging in a fierce battle and gradually narrowed the gap until rounding the windward gate just 2 seconds behind. From that point the regatta became a true match race, with both boats "neck to neck" and continuous changes of lead.
Luna Rossa turned the tide at gate 3, rounding it 20 seconds before American Magic. From that point the Italian crew sailed defensively, covering the American team and keeping its lead all the way to the finish line.
Winner: ITA (+1)
MATCH #11 - GBR vs ITA
The conditions became lighter and more complex compared to the first match, but Luna Rossa managed them seamlessly.
The start was similar to the previous race, with a tack right after crossing the line, where Luna Rossa headed to the right side and took the lead after the first cross, rounding the first gate with a 25-second lead. The gap between the Italians and British boat steadily increased throughout the regatta, in a condition that greatly challenged the crews as they worked ceaselessly to keep their AC75s on foils.
The Italian challenger's sailing team worked hard and stayed focused, sailing constantly on the wind and staying close to the opponent, crossing the finish line with a lead of over 1 minute.
Winner: ITA (+1)
Luna Rossa's crew today featured Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni at the helm, with Umberto Molineris and Andrea Tesei as trimmers. As for the cyclors, Enrico Voltolini, Bruno Rosetti and Cesare Gabbia sailed in both races, while Emanuele Liuzzi alternated with Luca Kirwan.