Luna Rossa Triumphs in Both Matches on Day 1 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 14 Sep 11:22 PDT
14 September 2024
New York Yacht Club American Magic vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on Day 1 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals – 14th September 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
A splendid day with clear skies and southern winds of 8-10 knots created the perfect environment for the eagerly awaited first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals, where Luna Rossa shined brightly after two thrilling matches.
At day’s end, the Italian team earned two key points against NYYC American Magic, much to the joy of the numerous Italian fans who came to support Luna Rossa in Barcelona’s fan zones.
MATCH #01 – ITA vs USA
By maintaining the necessary distance from their opponent in the pre-start area, Luna Rossa tacked away just before the race start and moved to the right, but did not find the best wind conditions. American Magic, benefiting from a stronger start on the left, pulled ahead enough to maintain control over the Italian boat. The crew, led by Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni, relentlessly pressured their adversaries with calculated maneuvers, looking for the right moment to take the lead. That chance arrived in the final upwind leg when Luna Rossa, having made significant gains downwind by sailing on the more favorable side of the course, overtook American Magic and maintained the lead until the fifth gate, rounding it with a 22-second advantage. The race remained close until the final segment, but Luna Rossa successfully covered American Magic, finishing the race with a 7-second margin.
Winner: Luna Rossa (+1)
MATCH #02 – USA vs ITA
After a slightly delayed start, which initially forced Luna Rossa to chase the US team during the first upwind leg, the Italian boat managed to close the gap on the first downwind leg and capitalized on a mistake from the American team that caused them to lose lift. Similar to the first race, once the distance was narrowed, the Italian crew struck back on the second upwind leg with aggressive crosses and overtook American Magic, rounding the third gate with a 6-second lead. Luna Rossa maintained their advantage for the rest of the race, although American Magic made a surprising run on the last stretch, aided by a favorable wind shift that reduced the gap just meters from the finish. Luna Rossa held their composure and crossed the finish line 18 seconds ahead.
Winner: Luna Rossa (+1).
The Luna Rossa crew today featured Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni at the helm, with Umberto Molineris and Andrea Tesei as trimmers. The cyclors included Enrico Voltolini, Bruno Rosetti, and Cesare Gabbia, while Emanuele Liuzzi alternated with Luca Kirwan across both races.
