Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals Day 4
by Mark Jardine 18 Sep 10:11 PDT
18 September 2024
Luna Rossa breaks traveller – Day 4 – Semi-Finals – Louis Vuitton Cup – Day 13 – September 18, 2024 – Barcelona © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
After Day 2, both Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals stood at 4-0, with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Britannia on match point, and it felt like the America’s Cup stage would be lacking drama.
Little did we anticipate…
The wind conditions were some of the most unpredictable we’ve seen in Barcelona, characterized by numerous holes and shifts. It was a perfect setting for a game of Snakes and Ladders.
Broadcast
The display of True Wind Speed was more frequent today, crucial information when it was hovering around five or six knots, enhancing the viewing experience significantly.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs. INEOS Britannia
An apparent early tactic from Alinghi resulted in a near-perfect pin end start, allowing them to surge to a 50-meter advantage, but a boundary tack error shifted the advantage to INEOS Britannia.
While the British team maintained a comfortable lead upwind, Alinghi caught up significantly due to a considerable right-hand wind shift, rounding just 6 seconds behind at the first windward gate.
A sluggish gybe by the British crew allowed the Swiss team to overtake them and regain the lead. Alinghi skillfully maneuvered through pressure patches, while INEOS Britannia struggled with wind holes, establishing an 800+ meter lead by the first leeward gate.
Alinghi completed the upwind leg cleanly, rounding the second windward gate with over a minute lead. A British setback during a low wind gybe increased Alinghi’s advantage to over a kilometer, leading by 1 minute 25 seconds at the second leeward gate.
The final upwind leg had the Swiss coach and fans on edge, as every tack had potential risks in the light winds. However, the Alinghi team successfully rounded the final windward gate in front.
Just as INEOS Britannia seemed to be closing in, they had to tack beneath the lay line at the windward gate, dropping back into lowriding mode once again.
Alinghi didn’t make mistakes during the final downwind leg, winning the race and bringing the score to 4-2, keeping the Semi Final competitive.
New York Yacht Club American Magic vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
American Magic expertly controlled the pre-start, positioning themselves ahead of Luna Rossa and accelerating towards the boundary, forcing the Italians to tack away early.
A quick 100-meter lead turned into a deficit when the wind shifted right, allowing Luna Rossa to tack ahead of American Magic. Wind speeds dropped to marginal levels, often as low as 5 knots, making it essential to stay foiling.
During the first downwind leg, precise gybes were crucial, with any minor mistakes leading to losses. At times, both teams struggled to maintain speed as they fought to move in the light air.
The US team seized the lead, sailing across the course in just 4 knots of wind. However, American Magic made a misstep, dropping into lowriding mode after a gybe, while Luna Rossa tacked to keep foiling, incurring a double penalty for boundary violation.
Staying on the foils was critical, and Luna Rossa managed to clear their penalty and take the lead by sailing past the lowriding American Magic.
The Race Committee continually shortened the course to just 0.8 nautical miles, while American Magic found enough wind to get back foiling, rounding the first leeward gate precisely even with Luna Rossa.
Rounding different marks, American Magic initially gained on the right, only to lose it to a left shift, leading to the race being shortened to just four legs. The two boats battled closely upwind, trading leads.
The pivotal moment came when the US team caught the Italians on port-starboard at the windward gate, forcing Luna Rossa to sail beyond the buoys to find pressure to tack, resulting in them falling off their foils and rounding the final windward gate 2 minutes and 50 seconds behind.
However, American Magic was also lowriding, and Luna Rossa had the potential to close the gap if they could foil again. Ultimately, it was the American boat that found the pressure first, finishing strong as Luna Rossa was disqualified for exceeding 85 meters out of the boundary.
The competition is heating up in both Semi-Finals.
INEOS Britannia vs. Alinghi Red Bull Racing
Following a wait for wind, the race commenced.
INEOS Britannia faced an uphill battle, receiving a penalty for an early start, opting to start on port to shake off the 75-meter penalty and head towards the favored right side.
With the wind shifting erratically, Alinghi was compelled to duck beneath the British boat during the first cross. Nonetheless, INEOS Britannia maintained their lead in the subsequent cross, leading at the first windward gate by 25 seconds.
The British faced some tense moments downwind, nearly dropping off their foils, but expanded their lead to 31 seconds by the leeward gate, keeping a tight upwind race to boost their lead to 50 seconds.
With significant pressure variations on the course, the race was still on, as Alinghi closed in to a 39-second deficit at the second leeward gate, with only two legs left to try and overtake INEOS Britannia.
However, the British kept a close watch on the Swiss during the upwind leg, trying to minimize the risks from substantial shifts and gusts, extending their lead at the final windward gate where Alinghi fell off their foils during a tack.
INEOS Britannia surged to the finish line, securing their place in the Louis Vuitton Cup final, while Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s valiant attempt at a comeback was concluded.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. New York Yacht Club American Magic
Could Luna Rossa join INEOS Britannia in the finals, or would American Magic continue their comeback?
The Americans effectively controlled the racing again, compelling the Italians to tack away. Yet, this time, there was no significant right shift for Luna Rossa as in their last meeting, and American Magic crossed 50 meters ahead.
At the windward gate, the teams were nearly tied, with American Magic rounding just 7 seconds ahead after crossing Luna Rossa on starboard.
Luna Rossa gained early downwind to cross ahead on starboard, but American Magic managed to find more breeze to round the first leeward gate just 4 seconds in front.
Then the Italians seized pressure on the right upwind, reclaiming the lead, only for the Americans to leverage pressure on the left, resulting in a rapid exchange of leads between these evenly matched teams.
At the second windward gate, Luna Rossa tacked just ahead of American Magic, who opted to tack off to the opposite mark, rounding just 8 seconds behind.
But disaster struck for Luna Rossa as their mainsheet traveler broke with a loud bang, granting victory to American Magic.
With the traveler shattered on the rear of the boat, leading to a severe structural failure, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli shore team is now in a race against time to repair their boat before tomorrow’s races.
The score stands at 4-3, and time is not on their side.