Luna Rossa affirms leading position on Day 2 of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup
by Magnus Wheatley 18 Sep 07:05 PDT
17-26 September 2024
Keep an eye on Marco Gradoni and Gianluigi Ugolini, two guaranteed future stars of the America’s Cup, who today solidified their leading roles, achieving two consecutive victories for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on the second day of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup.
It was another tough racing day in Barcelona, featuring nearly a meter of sea swell and a variable breeze of 8 to 14 knots, presenting a true challenge for the sailors as maneuvering precision and fleet-wide tactical skills were put to the test.
In the first fleet race of the day and the third for Group A, representing the America’s Cup teams, both NYYC American Magic and Orient Express L’Oreal Racing Team were unable to participate.
The remaining four teams from Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Great Britain showcased an impressive performance. Emirates Team New Zealand excelled at the first windward mark, with the British Athena Pathway team and the Italian squad close behind. However, Italy received a penalty for getting too close to the British crew on the last approach to the first mark while both teams tried to avoid a collision with the Kiwis, who had right of way on starboard tack.
Despite their penalty, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli took advantage of mistakes made by the Kiwis and the British downwind and established a lead they would not relinquish over the next four legs. Crossing the finish line at 30 knots with a 500-meter lead, Gradoni and Ugolini tightened their grip on the series while Athena Pathway earned a crucial second place, followed by Emirates Team New Zealand in third. The race for those vital top three spots is now more competitive than ever.
All attention turned to the day’s second race, the fourth of the series, and yet again, Luna Rossa exploded off the starting line with exceptional speed and height, applying significant pressure on the fleet. Their initial rivals were Emirates Team New Zealand, but their challenge dwindled after maneuvering errors down the first run, allowing the Italians to extend their lead and remain unchallenged.
The crucial battle of the race was for second and third place, with Athena Pathway and Alinghi Red Bull Racing engaging in a fierce scrap tack-for-tack and gybe-for-gybe until the finish. The British team edged ahead on the final gybe to secure their second runner-up finish of the day, improving their standing in the points.
With their two wins today, Luna Rossa increased their lead at the top of the Group A standings to 12 points ahead of NYYC American Magic in second and Great Britain’s Athena Pathway in third.
Luna Rossa trimmer Rocco Falcone stated that the team had a “fantastic day on the water.”
“It was again quite challenging, with large waves and a favorable breeze. Conditions were very dynamic, shifty, and gusty. The boys performed well, executing two excellent races with strong starts, keeping things simple and fast afterward.”
Conversely, Luna Rossa helmsman Gianluigi Ugolini provided insight into their upcoming approach: “We are performing well but concentrating simply on the next races. Our team is dedicated to delivering our best, and while we are pleased with our current performance, our focus is on improvement.”
“We haven’t sailed much in these challenging conditions, so we’re honing our boat-handling skills. We’re not discussing points right now. While winning the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup would be wonderful, we can’t look that far ahead; our priority is qualifying for the semi-finals.”
Four more races remain for Group A’s America’s Cup teams, but tomorrow all eyes will shift to the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Group B Invited Teams, set to begin their racing schedule.
The UniCredit Youth America’s Cup is showcasing elite racing from the sport’s future stars in the ideal pathway yacht, the AC40, for the next generation to excel.
Stay tuned; this competition is going to be thrilling until the very end.
Event website: www.americascup.com/events/unicredit-youth-americas-cup
Group A standings after day 2:
1. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Youth Team – 37pts
2. NYYC American Magic Youth Team – 25pts
3. Athena Pathway Youth Team – 22pts
4. Emirates Team New Zealand Youth Team – 16pts
5. Orient Express – L’Oréal Racing Youth Team – 16pts
6. Alinghi Red Bull Racing Youth Team – 14pts
