Luna Rossa wins an impressive match and stays tie with Ineos
Luna Rossa won the second regatta of the day, after a technical issue prevented the team from competing in the first one. The second match proved to be spectacular and adrenaline-filled, as the AC75s flew in strong winds and rough sea state at speeds of over 50 knots. It was a heart-stopping race that delighted the many supporters gathered in the fan zones along Barceloneta.
Patrizio Bertelli, President of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, during quick visit to the team in Barcelona commented: «I met with the team this morning and I see everyone focused and in great shape. I’ll be back later this week.»
Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director, commented: «All in all it was a good day; things could have gone very differently, considering the issue we had with the mainsail. Unfortunately, unforeseen problems can occur. And the team responded brilliantly. We managed to change the mainsail in record time, and it wasn’t easy to race with the second sail we put on, which was better suited for lighter winds. A huge “bravo” to the crew for handling this situation and making an excellent start despite a less-than-perfect approach to the line. This gives us great energy for the upcoming races.»
MATCH #03 – GBR vs ITA
The start of the match was delayed by over 40 minutes due to strong wind (over 21 knots) on the racecourse. At that point Luna Rossa incurred a damage to its mainsail battens and was forced to execute a sail change. By 2:50 p.m., however, the Race Committee gave the start, disqualifying Luna Rossa for receiving outside assistance during the pre-start procedures.
Winner: GBR (+ 1 point)
MATCH #04 – ITA vs GBR
Luna Rossa entered the race well-focused and determined, executing a textbook match race from the start. Starting windward of Ineos Britannia, the Italians forced the British to tack to escape the dirty air. Impeccable in all maneuvers, despite the strong weather conditions and a less-than-optimal mainsail after the earlier replacement, the Italian boat led at every mark, increasing the gap to 300 meters by the fifth leg. Throughout the race, despite the British crew's attempts to close the gap, Luna Rossa never allowed them a chance to catch up and stayed concentrated and in the lead until the finish line, crossed with a 4-second advantage.
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. The cyclors on board were Enrico Voltolini, Bruno Rosetti, Cesare Gabbia and Emanuele Liuzzi.
