Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and NYYC American Magic Set to Shine in UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Final
by America’s Cup media 24 Sep 11:18 PDT
17-26 September 2024
It may well be promoted as the ‘clash of the new generation’ as two of the globe’s top young sailing stars face off for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup title.
Marco Gradoni, the dynamic and rapidly emerging Italian talent from Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, and Harry Melges – the latest in a remarkable US sailing legacy – representing NYYC American Magic, have both secured spots in the event’s forthcoming Match Race Final, after four exceptional fleet races in today’s Semi-Finals. They will now compete in a one-time, winner-takes-all race for the title on Thursday, September 26.
Barcelona provided excellent racing conditions today—better than anticipated. Forecasts suggested late afternoon breezes, but just before 1330 CET, a robust 12-17 knots from the south-west appeared over flat water, ideal for swifter, intense, action-filled racing in the world’s most thrilling new class, the AC40.
Race Director, Iain Murray promptly released the boats and crew from the impressive ‘nou’ Port Olímpic marina, with sailors quickly maneuvering onto the course with J2 jibs set in increasing wind.
Doubts about how the Invited Teams would contend against the seasoned America’s Cup crews were swiftly dispelled in the opening race, when the Swedish Challenge Youth Team powered by Artemis Technologies made a strong start and maintained their lead to claim a memorable victory. Closely following were the Italians Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, who demonstrated impressive consistency in the subsequent races.
By the day’s second race, a hierarchy had emerged, with NYYC American Magic performing excellently, pulling off a tense last gybe to secure their first win against Luna Rossa. In Race 3, the Italians asserted their dominance, breaking away from the pack and winning decisively.
Further down the fleet, the standings were competitive, with the Athena Pathway Team from Great Britain achieving consistent podium finishes. By the final race, they were tied with NYYC American Magic for third place, while the Swedish Challenge was just a couple of points behind, ready to capitalize on any errors from the top three teams during this critical final race of the day.
As racing commenced, all was at stake for the teams aiming for the Final. However, Andoo Team Australia took the lead from the start and delivered a stellar performance to claim a solid win ahead of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. Local favorites, Sail Team BCN, achieved a memorable third place, while the closely-contested battle for second overall was between NYYC American Magic and Athena Pathway, who started the race tied on points.
During the final windward leg, the Americans executed a tactically smart beat to remain on the right side against the British, capitalizing on the starboard tack advantage to maintain control. On the final downwind leg, they accelerated, gaining several lengths to finish in fourth place. This exceptional sailing secured them a clear second place overall and a spot in the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Final.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli dominated the overall standings and also advanced to the Final. Helmsmen Marco Gradoni and Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Ugolini benefit from the talents of trimmers Rocco Falcone and Federico Colaninno, and are keenly focused on the match-race format.
Gigi Ugolini shared his insights on the upcoming final race and the team’s determination, stating: “We have spent a lot of time on the simulator, so I’m confident we will be ready for the final match race. I believe they (NYYC American Magic) are an exceptional team. They demonstrate impressive speed and quick decision-making, so we’ll see what unfolds. The job isn’t over: it’s just one match race, one final match-race, and we are solely focused on our last day.”
On the other hand, at NYYC American Magic, their crew, led by Harry Melges and Kyle Navin at the helm, backed by skilled trimmers Severin Gramm and Finn Rowe, are well-prepared. This Youth team, much like the Italians, has been fully integrated with their senior America’s Cup team, which has expertly fostered their skills.
Kyle Navin, helmsman for NYYC American Magic expressed satisfaction in reaching the Final while acknowledging the challenging road ahead, stating: “We were definitely very excited onboard. The team performed excellently today, and we maintained focus and composure. We faced some tough moments on the course, but we recovered quickly and made it to the final.”
Discussing the pressure of the match-race format for the Final, Navin noted: “There’s definitely a lot of pressure, but we’re ready for it. We’ll go home, do our homework over the next couple of days, and be fully prepared for Thursday.”
For Athena Pathway, narrowly finishing third behind NYYC American Magic, it was a case of being so near yet so far. Helmsman and skipper Nick Robins was understandably disappointed but viewed the regatta as a valuable experience, saying: “We feel devastated that we didn’t quite make it, but also proud of our team for competing until the very end and trying everything possible while remaining calm under pressure. I’m sorry we couldn’t deliver when it mattered, but I’m proud of everyone for their hard work. I hope this serves as a launchpad, as we demonstrated how exciting these boats are to race. It was very competitive racing, with numerous opportunities on the track; the start was crucial, but the course had great passing options until the last moment.”
Meanwhile, Cole Tapper, skipper of Andoo Team Australia and winner of the day’s final race expressed satisfaction with their performance, stating: “We knew learning was part of the process, and that fleet out there was at another level. Unfortunately, we didn’t absorb those lessons quickly enough, but we proved we could do it in the final race. Competing with these sailors who have been on these boats for a long time makes us immensely proud of the team’s efforts. Our coach, Harry Price, has been exceptional, and every member of our program volunteers their time—we’re truly fortunate for this opportunity.”
The stage is set for an exhilarating UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Final. An exhilarating finale. An unpredictable showdown. A no-holds-barred, sailor against sailor final, where even the smallest error will be severely penalized. This is the intense environment of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, and the event’s young talent has met the challenge head-on.
A new champion will emerge, but the rivalry between Gradoni and Melges may very well become a familiar sight in future America’s Cup regattas. This initial confrontation could mark the beginning of a thrilling, decades-long psychological rivalry played out on the water.
With everything at stake, the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Final is scheduled for Thursday, September 26, during the opening two races of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final. Predicting the outcome is impossible, but excitement is guaranteed when these two teams clash.
