Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli to compete against American Magic in the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Match Race Final
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 24 Sep 09:30 PDT
24 September 2024
Today, Luna Rossa finished three races in second place and one in first, securing the team’s place in the match race final that will decide the champion of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup.
The conditions were perfect for the six teams competing in the UYAC semi-finals, with a south-southwest wind of about 12 knots that increased throughout the afternoon. The atmosphere among competitors was tense, as today would determine the two finalist teams. The crews battled fiercely, with tight crossings and numerous penalties issued by the umpires.
RACE #01
After a strong start, Luna Rossa aggressively tackled the first portion of the upwind leg among the leaders but faced two back-to-back penalties that pushed them to fourth place. Demonstrating excellent sailing in the day’s unpredictable wind, the Italian team offset their penalties and regained some positions, particularly at the last gate, where they rounded inside and ahead of the Spanish team. In the final stretch, Luna Rossa fought hard to close the gap and finished the race in second place.
Luna Rossa: 2nd place (+7 points)
RACE #02
Weather conditions changed during the second match, with a breeze from the southwest at 16 knots. Luna Rossa navigated to the start on port tack and crossed behind the entire fleet, with a clear path to the far right of the course. This strategy paid off, as the Italian boat gained ground and rounded the mark in second place, just 2 seconds behind the U.S. team. The rest of the race saw Luna Rossa engaged in a duel with the American boat, featuring constant lead swaps and minimal differences at each gate. The close competition was evident in the final results, with Luna Rossa finishing second, just 3 seconds behind.
Luna Rossa: 2nd place (+7 points)
RACE #03
Launching from the middle of the fleet, Luna Rossa immediately assigned two penalties to the Australian team and proceeded up the first leg on the right side of the course. The Italian boat remained ahead of the leading group, which included the British and American teams, but by a slim margin. The boats were so close that Luna Rossa and Athena GBR rounded the first mark simultaneously. Thanks to flawless sailing from the crew, led by Marco Gradoni and Gianluigi Ugolini, they maintained the lead for the rest of the race. With solid tactics and efficient, fast maneuvers, the team earned a well-deserved victory.
Luna Rossa: 1st place (+10 points).
RACE #04
In the final race of the day, the wind intensified and the sea state became rougher. After receiving a penalty at the start, Luna Rossa moved to the far right side of the course, aiming to recover against the leading group, rounding the first mark in fourth place. As they went downwind, the challenging conditions in the choppy waters grew tougher, but at the next gate, the team gained another position, rounding gate 3 in second place. From that moment on, Luna Rossa sailed with caution and consistency for the rest of the race, finishing in second place.
Luna Rossa: 2nd place (+ 7 points).
The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli crew included: Marco Gradoni and Gianluigi Ugolini (helmsmen), Federico Colaninno and Rocco Falcone (trimmers).
