Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Triumphs in Match Race Final to Secure the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup
by America’s Cup media 26 Sep 06:02 PDT
17-26 September 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli’s youthful crew showcased their generational talent, delivering a powerful performance in the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Final, decisively defeating NYYC American Magic in an exhilarating six-leg race under winds reaching 18 knots and significant waves.
With the dynamic Marco Gradoni at the helm, a name poised to be significant in future America’s Cup events for Italy, alongside co-helmsman Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Ugolini and trimmers Rocco Falcone and Federico Colaninno, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli established themselves as a superior force, taking the lead from the outset while consistently maintaining a conservative approach, capitalizing on an early-start penalty incurred by NYYC American Magic.
After misjudging their timing at the port end of the starting line, the umpires issued a 75-meter penalty to the Americans, forcing them to reposition despite a strong beginning; following the first tack, they lost their advantageous positioning to the Italians. The gap widened from 75 meters to 100 as Luna Rossa skillfully maneuvered along the right boundary, denying any passing opportunities over the six legs that followed.
Sailing with precision, Luna Rossa made no errors, rounding the leeward gates with two boards down in the 18-knot wind while steadily bearing away at the top gates, reaching speeds exceeding 46 knots. Their approach exemplified masterful front-running, with crisp communication onboard the Italian vessel reminiscent of the best practices seen in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.
The NYYC America’s Cup youth team, led by Harry Melges with co-helmsman Kyle Navin and trimmers Severin Gramm and Finn Rowe, saw their aspirations dashed, lamenting the starting mistake and minor mishaps that resulted in a 36-second gap from the Italian crew. Despite this setback, these promising young sailors are sure to recover, accepting the experience as a valuable lesson; however, their disappointment was palpable. So close, yet so far.
Winning the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, even after a brief scare during a final gybe on the last leg, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has set a significant precedent, highlighting the future of this passionate nation in elite sailing.
The emerging generation of talent from Italy is performing at the highest level, and their dominant and consistent victories throughout the week in the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup affirm their status as an unstoppable force in global sailing.
Celebration erupted onboard Luna Rossa post-race as this close-knit team, exemplifying focus and determination throughout the event, let loose, jubilantly spraying Juvé & Camps cava amidst the festivities.
A thrilled Marco Gradoni, representing not only the youth team but Italian youth sailing, expressed his joy onboard, stating: “This moment is important because we worked a lot for this and now we have achieved our goal. I genuinely want to thank everyone—the coach, the shore team, the tech team—thank you all because it was incredibly challenging to reach this level. But we did it, and it feels amazing.”
Later today, the Italian team will receive the exquisite UniCredit Youth America’s Cup trophy, inspired by the bowline knot, reinforcing their pedigree and potential. The time is now, and the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup has highlighted the brightest talents in beautiful Barcelona.
Remember the names—Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli youth sailors are the 2024 UniCredit Youth America’s Cup champions and are on a winning streak.
