Louis Vuitton Cup Final Day 4 – The Goldilocks Zone
by Mark Jardine 30 Sep 06:47 PDT
30 September 2024
In Barcelona, we’ve experienced occasions when the breeze has been too light, and others, such as Sunday, when it was excessively strong. Thankfully, Monday provided the perfect conditions.
Racing commenced without any delays.
The tight competition between these two teams ensured an intense viewing experience.
Broadcast
I believe that more frequent displays of wind speed would enhance our understanding. They can superimpose wind speed and direction graphics on the water, giving viewers much greater insight.
Race 5: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. INEOS Britannia
Luna Rossa initially appeared to control the start well, while INEOS Britannia arrived somewhat late in the starting area. However, the Italians lost rudder control when maneuvering through their competitors’ disturbed air, allowing the British to gain a hundred-meter advantage right off the line.
The British maintained a loose cover on the Italians, focusing on their strategy and rounding the windward gate five seconds ahead.
As they raced downwind, the lead fluctuated, with Luna Rossa rounding the leeward gate six seconds behind and opting for a different gate than INEOS Britannia, heading out to the right.
Once again, the British team prioritized their strategy over direct covering until the final tack into the second windward gate, where they led by seven seconds, rounding the same buoy.
Communication aboard INEOS Britannia sounded notably calmer than the previous day. Meanwhile, Luna Rossa’s communication remained composed, characteristic even though they were behind.
By the race’s halfway point, the British lead had grown to 11 seconds.
As British coach Rob Wilson remarked during the race, “We just aimed to stick to our processes and focus on our own race. They’re all business today, without a doubt.”
Luna Rossa narrowed the gap to just five seconds by the third windward gate, as INEOS Britannia couldn’t seem to shake them off.
The British performance appeared solid until they rounded the final leeward gate, where they briefly slid sideways, barely regaining control of the boat. Their lead shrank to just 35 meters.
Italian coach Philippe Presti commented, “It’s incredibly tight. The team did well to keep the competition alive, and I’m hopeful for an opportunity.”
However, INEOS Britannia shifted to a defensive approach, tacking on Luna Rossa during each maneuver, leading Jimmy Spithill to label it as “damage limitation mode” as they approached the final windward gate, rounding eight seconds ahead.
The British made no errors on the last downwind leg, securing a 12-second victory.
As the legendary Australian sailor Glenn Ashby stated during the broadcast, “A true lesson in keeping your elbows out and your opponent in the rearview mirror.”
A more composed Ben Ainslie remarked after the race, “We approach each race as it comes. We’re up against a top-notch team in Luna Rossa… this second race is bound to be another epic one. It would be fantastic to add another win to our tally.”
Race 6: INEOS Britannia vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
Both squads arrived at the start area slightly behind schedule, with INEOS Britannia opting for an early loop and aggressively gybing in front of their rival. However, Luna Rossa quickly climbed higher, creating a gap as they approached the line.
Both boats launched off the start line at speed, with the British boat adopting a high position on the leeward side, forcing the Italians to tack sooner than preferred.
During the next engagement, INEOS Britannia tacked just beneath Luna Rossa, initiating a drag race on starboard tack across the course.
The boats tacked in unison on the lay line, with the Italians gaining the advantage and rounding the first windward gate four seconds ahead.
In downwind conditions, INEOS Britannia had to navigate through Luna Rossa’s disturbed air, but their lead still increased to six seconds at the first leeward gate.
The British then tacked off early to clear their air, but their lead extended to 150 meters due to their tight leeward mark rounding.
At the second windward gate, INEOS Britannia attempted a tack and bear away to separate from Luna Rossa, but their lead shrank to 12 seconds. The separation was risky, yet worth attempting for a possible advantage. Ultimately, it didn’t work, as the Italians rounded the second leeward gate 13 seconds ahead, but it was a good gamble.
Italian coach Philippe Presti appreciated Luna Rossa’s prudent strategy, saying, “You don’t have to dominate the start to gain control. I’m very pleased with how this is turning out. A point is a point, and it’s the final point of the series that you wish to win!”
By the third windward gate, Luna Rossa had increased their lead to 17 seconds, with INEOS Britannia electing to round the opposite buoy.
The Italians appeared to be in command, but as Ben Ainslie noted, “A single mistake could change everything; we need to keep the pressure on.” His crew listened closely, reducing their deficit to 13 seconds at the third leeward gate.
Nonetheless, Luna Rossa wasn’t being lenient and executed their game plan smoothly, expanding their lead to 19 seconds at the final windward gate and ultimately winning by 17 seconds, leveling the series to 3-3.
It remains evident that while Luna Rossa has a slight edge upwind, INEOS Britannia holds the advantage downwind. However, the performance differences are minimal; thus, sailing skills, particularly at the start, are determining the race outcomes.
Although the competition has been tremendously thrilling, we’ve yet to witness a lead change in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final during a completed race.
