Luna Rossa secures an impressive victory, remaining tied with INEOS Britannia in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 29 Sep 11:37 PDT
29 September 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. INEOS Britannia on Louis Vuitton Cup Final Race Day 3 – September 29, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli replaces their mainsail due to broken battens on Louis Vuitton Cup Final Day 3 – September 29, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
Luna Rossa claimed victory in the second regatta of the day, having faced a technical issue that kept them from participating in the first race.
The second match showcased spectacular and thrilling sailing as the AC75s soared in strong winds and choppy seas, reaching speeds surpassing 50 knots. The intense race captivated the numerous fans gathered in the viewing zones along Barceloneta.
Patrizio Bertelli, President of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, remarked during a brief visit to the team in Barcelona: “I met with the team this morning, and I see everyone focused and in great shape. I will return later this week.”
Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director, stated: “Overall, it was a positive day; things could have turned out quite differently given the issue with the mainsail. Unfortunately, unexpected problems can arise. The team handled it brilliantly. We changed the mainsail in record time, and it wasn’t easy to race with the secondary sail we used, which was better for lighter winds. A huge ‘bravo’ to the crew for managing this situation and making an excellent start despite a suboptimal approach to the line. This gives us great momentum for the upcoming races.”
MATCH #03 – GBR vs ITA
The match start was delayed by more than 40 minutes due to high winds (over 21 knots) on the course. During this time, Luna Rossa suffered damage to its mainsail battens and had to change sails. By 2:50 p.m., the Race Committee commenced the match, disqualifying Luna Rossa for receiving outside assistance before the start.
Winner: GBR (+ 1 point)
MATCH #04 – ITA vs GBR
Luna Rossa entered the race well-prepared and focused, executing a perfect match race from the beginning. Starting windward of INEOS Britannia, the Italians compelled the British to tack to escape the disturbed air. Flawless in all maneuvers despite the challenging conditions and an imperfect mainsail due to the earlier replacement, the Italian team led at every mark, widening the gap to 300 meters by the fifth leg.
Throughout the race, even with the British crew’s attempts to close the distance, Luna Rossa never gave them a chance to catch up and maintained focus and leadership until the finish line, crossed with a 4-second advantage.
Winner: ITA (+ 1)
Today’s crew for Luna Rossa included Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni at the helm, with Umberto Molineris and Andrea Tesei as trimmers. The on-board cyclors were Enrico Voltolini, Bruno Rosetti, Cesare Gabbia, and Emanuele Liuzzi.
