Luna Rossa closes this Final Preliminary Regatta in second place
Luna Rossa closes this Final Preliminary Regatta in second place
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli closes this Final Preliminary Regatta in Barcelona in second place after four intense days that confirmed the solidity of the Italian team both in terms of design and sailing performance. On the final day, Luna Rossa won a magnificent and thrilling race against Alinghi Red Bull Racing but lost the final match against Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, winner of the event.
«Today is the final day of the preliminary races, and if the audience was expecting a show, they got it. Of course, we would have preferred to finish with a victory over ETNZ because it was within our reach. We are not happy about losing the race, but overall, after these days, the assessment is positive because we have a high-performing boat that will surely allow us to compete at the top against all our opponents. It’s a good feeling to have before the start of the Challenger Selection Series next week» said Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
«It’s a slightly disappointing way to close the day. We made some mistakes when we got close and there are definitely some umpire decisions that require interpretation. The positive aspect is that the boat performs well, the crew is strong, and we are ready to fight in the upcoming races» said Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli helmsman Francesco “Checco” Bruni.
Measurement checks are scheduled for August 26, 27, and 28 and racing will resume on August 29 with the first day of the Round Robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
MATCH 14 – ITA vs SUI
Although both boats entered the pre-start box separated, a few seconds before the start Alinghi forced Luna Rossa to cross the line early, with a resulting penalty. The Swiss crew immediately took the lead and kept it until halfway down the second leg. At that point, however, in a sudden loss of control of their AC75, they dropped off the foils and their bow reared up. Luna Rossa closed in immediately at full speed, overturning the outcome of what appeared to be an unpredictable race. After serving a penalty for an infraction of the rule (which was later found to be unfounded due to a malfunction in the electronic positioning system), the Italian crew decided to engage the Swiss team in a series of tacking duels, gaining meter by meter until they rounded the third gate with a 12-second lead. From that moment onwards Luna Rossa chose to control the Swiss team and kept a steady lead. Despite the difficult course conditions, with choppy waves and gusty winds, Luna Rossa progressively increased the lead and crossed the finish line first, securing another well-deserved point.
Winner: ITA
FINAL – NZL vs ITA:
Another thrilling match race that stayed open until the very end, but was lost due to three penalties too many. There was a lot of anticipation for this race, and it did not disappoint. The match was aggressive right from the pre-start, when Luna Rossa incurred in a right-of-way penalty. This however did not discourage the Italian crew as they pushed to close the gap. At the second gate Luna Rossa decided to separate and, taking advantage of stronger shifts on the right side of the course was able to fully close the gap. The final leg was neck-to-neck, with both boats engaged in aggressive crossings. In two of these Luna Rossa incurred two more penalties. The Kiwis took full advantage of this opportunity and made the most of the advantage gained, controlling Luna Rossa until they crossed the finish line.
Winner: NZL
Luna Rossa’s crew today featured Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni at the helm, with Umberto Molineris and Andrea Tesei as trimmers. Cyclors on board were Enrico Voltolini and Emanuele Liuzzi who sailed both races, while Nicholas Brezzi e Mattia Camboni alternated with Luca Kirwan and Cesare Gabbia.
