Cup Spy – Day 18: Louis Vuitton Cup – Finals Day 4 – Another 50kt Arm Wrestle
by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 30 Sep 07:20 PDT
1 October 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. INEOS Britannia on Louis Vuitton Cup Final Race Day 4 – September 30, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
Day 18 of the Louis Vuitton Cup – September 30, 2024 – Finals Day 4
Commentary: Another day, and another 50kt arm wrestle
A new development occurred today in the Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup – the racing commenced as scheduled.
Barcelona provided a lovely breeze – slightly west of south and a few knots lighter than yesterday.
It was an ideal day to push the AC75s to their limits – both teams hit speeds of over 50kts in each race.
The statistics reveal that both teams maintained the same or quite similar average speeds and VMGs.
Unsurprisingly, with such figures today, INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli each secured one victory. In other terms, Luna Rossa lost the first race and triumphed in the second.
A miscalculation in the prestart of the first race – just over 30 seconds prior to the beginning – led Italian helmsman Jimmy Spithill to back away from a position on the leeward quarter of INEOS Britannia. Luna Rossa encountered turbulence from the Brits’ rig while passing through, which completely backed the jib and caused the port foil to wash out.
“We overloaded the left foil too much, and it was a costly mistake,” co-helmsman Francesco Bruni explained in Italian post-race.
Virtual Eye tracked the Italian’s speed plummeting from 37kts to 15kts in just 8 seconds, while Ben Ainslie sped away at 34kts, reaching 100 meters ahead as the Brits crossed the start line. Spithill and his crew hit the accelerator post-incident, reaching 42kts in their run to the line, but starting with such disadvantage in fresh wind and flat seas rendered the race a certain victory for the Brits.
INEOS experienced a slip at Mark 6 as they, too, washed out their foils, veering wide on the corner, nearly allowing Luna Rossa back into the race. Their lead narrowed to just 48 meters, or less than two boat lengths, but they maintained their advantage, with the Italians trailing closely for a bit before tacking toward the favored starboard boundary near the beach. From that point, the Brits effectively controlled the race, pulling away to secure a 12-second win.
Spithill made a comeback in Race 6. He nailed the start, getting a higher position on the British – both teams were early – and both lowered their bows in the final moments, crossing the line at 39kts, with Luna Rossa to windward and initially half a boat length ahead of the Brits, who managed to break through on the drag to the port boundary.
The Italians were the first to tack, while Francesco Bruni, the portside helmsman, worked wonders to quickly extend their lead to a boat length as they sailed toward the beach. Then it was Spithill’s turn after their tack towards Mark 1, steering the Brits into a position where they could only follow the Italians to the mark. They surpassed 50kts at the rounding, and it turned into another procession around the course. The Italians finished 17 seconds or 374 meters ahead, leveling the series.
From this point, the Final seems to be the Italians’ to lose. The two AC75s appear closely matched.
However, the dynamic has shifted since the Round Robins and Semi-Finals. The first boat to round the first mark in the five races thus far has gone on to win. This has become almost a tradition in the Cup.
Getting to the front at Mark 1 is typically achieved by winning the start and avoiding penalties. This regatta looks likely to be influenced again by the Spithill factor, where the two-time America’s Cup winner, fueled by self-confidence, gains the upper hand at the start, making it generally race over.
The Italians experienced a baptism of fire in 2021 when they pushed the Kiwis to 3-3 before losing two critical races. In the post-race media sessions, Francesco Bruni, or Checco as he likes to be called, made intriguing comments regarding their frustrating encounters with the Kiwi team. “It’s like trying to drown a fish… underwater,” he said after one challenging race. Later, he commented on how the home team always seemed to benefit from a “Kiwi puff” when they were on Match Point, managing to catch some private shifts of the Auckland breeze. There won’t be any Kiwi puffs in Barcelona.
Another vital lesson for the Italians in Auckland was to avoid getting ahead of themselves and dreaming about the final prize. As the Luna Rossa team leader, a mid-bowman in that 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup, described the America’s Cup: “it is my greatest dream and worst nightmare.”
Throughout this series, the Italians have demonstrated the mental resilience to bounce back from significant setbacks. As Francesco Bruni noted today in his Italian interview regarding their recovery in Race 6, “I am confident because the boat seems to perform well. The team is strong. But we must believe in ourselves.”
Top Olympic coach Hamish Willcox, who was part of the Italian team in 2000 in Auckland, anticipates that the arm-wrestle will persist.
“I think we’re going to exchange blows until the end,” he remarked after today’s races. “I believe it will go down to the wire for sure. It will be fascinating to see both teams progress and manage their tactics; on our side, we’re just incredibly excited about it,” he added.
Like Max Sirena, Hamish Willcox was also part of the Italian squad in their first Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000.
“It feels very reminiscent of my involvement with Luna Rossa in Auckland,” Willcox remembered. “We had a match against [Paul] Cayard and ended up at six-all, winning 7-6 in the Louis Vuitton Final. It feels much like that now. Ultimately, the stronger team will prevail – it will just come down to many little details coming together.”
Previously part of the Team New Zealand coaching staff, Willcox offered a few insights for his old team watching the Challengers compete in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final.
“I think they’d be concerned,” he commented. “The lessons we learn in competition are invaluable and impossible to replicate. The team that wins this Louis Vuitton Final is going to present a significant challenge.”
Replay video coverage
You can replay today’s races Live here – further video will be added as it becomes available:
Tuesday’s Schedule and Weather
Racing will resume tomorrow, Tuesday, when Match 7 (Scheduled start – 1410hrs CET or 1210hrs UTC) and Match 8 (Scheduled start – 1515hrs CET or 1315hrs UTC) will take place in the 13-race series.
The preliminary forecast from Predictwind anticipates South-Westerlies in the afternoon at around 10 to 15 knots.
Race Summaries – Finals Matches 5 and 6:
Final – Match 5: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Port Startbox Entry) vs INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Starboard Startbox entry)
Racing began on time with winds of 19kts. Luna Rossa went too high on their leeward foil 30 seconds before the start and washed out. Although they managed to get foiling, they lost the lead to GBR, who had a 104-meter advantage as they headed up the first leg.
The issue arose when ITA decided to cross GBR’s stern from leeward to windward. As they navigated through GBR’s rig turbulence, ITA’s jib went aback, triggering a loss of power and subsequent washout. After the start, both boats headed towards the starboard boundary – along the beach. The lead was reduced to 80 meters.
Mark 1: 03m 34secs GBR led ITA by 5 secs
Mark 2: 06m 26secs GBR led ITA by 6 secs. ITA trailed by 130 meters on Leg 3 – but narrowed it down to 60 meters near Mark 3.
Mark 3: 10m 21secs GBR led ITA by 6secs or 150meters on the water. ITA opted to stay on GBR’s windward quarter. Luna Rossa had a larger jib #4, while GBR used a #5.
Mark 4: 13m 13secs GBR led ITA by an 11secs margin adjusting on Leg 5 to 60-100meters.
Mark 5: 17m 08secs GBR led ITA by 5secs.
Mark 6: 20m 03secs GBR led ITA by 9secs. The Brits lost control while rounding the mark, washing out and sliding sideways. Their margin fell to 75 meters. The Brits maintained tight cover on ITA, with both tacking off the starboard boundary and the Brits keeping ITA in their turbulence.
Mark 7: 24m 13secs GBR led ITA by 8secs or 170 meters. Ainslie consistently communicating on INEOS Britannia. Margin stretched out to 175 meters.
Finish: 27m 06secs GBR led ITA by 12secs.
Points: INEOS Britannia is 3-2 in the best of 13 Final.
Key Statistics Finals Match 5:
Race Winner: INEOS Britannia; Time: 27m 06sec; Margin: 12secs; Distance: 220meters;
Top Speed: 51.9kt (ITA) 51.6kt (GBR); Average: 40.7kt (ITA) 41.2kts (GBR);
Upwind Speed: 37.7kt (ITA) 38.1kt (GBR); Downwind Speed: 44.7kt (ITA) 45.5kt (GBR)
Average VMG: 25.0kts (ITA) 25.0kts (GBR)
Distance Sailed: 34,301meters (ITA) 34,464meters (GBR)
Tacks: 20 (ITA) 22 (GBR); Gybes 14 (ITA) 12 (GBR); Total Tacks/Gybes 34 (ITA) 34 (GBR)
Final – Match 6: INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Port Startbox entry) vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Starboard Startbox Entry)
ITA came in windward of GBR at the start – even start – both maintained Starboard heading for the Port layline.
ITA pulled off the starboard boundary with ITA a boat length (25m) ahead.
Mark 1: 03m 35secs ITA led GBR by a margin of 4secs – extended to 92 meters on Leg 2. Both utilized #5 jibs.
Mark 2: 06m 30secs ITA led GBR by a margin of 6 secs – stretched to 180 meters upon leaving the Starboard boundary.
Mark 3: 10m 34secs ITA led GBR by a margin of 12 secs – ITA expanded to 300 meters downwind on Leg 4.
Mark 4: 13m 32secs ITA led GBR by a margin of 13 secs – ITA maintained a 250-meter lead on Leg 5 to windward. ITA kept a loose cover on GBR, both sailing in clear air except when GBR crossed behind. ITA aimed to put GBR in their exhaust on the final approach to Mark 5.
Mark 5: 17m 26secs ITA led GBR by a margin of 17 secs. The lead varied between 270 – 315 meters on the water.
Mark 6: 20m 26secs ITA led GBR by a margin of 13 secs. The lead grew to 277-300 meters. The Brits were too far back to be impacted by ITA.
Mark 7: 24m 15secs ITA led GBR by a margin of 19 secs. The lead reached 400 meters on the last leg of the course shortened to 1.7nm.
Points: INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa are 3-3 in the best of 13 Final.
Key Statistics Finals Race 6:
Race Winner: Luna Rossa; Time: 26m 56sec; Margin: 17secs; Distance: 374 meters;
Top Speed: 51.4kt (ITA) 50.3kt (GBR); Average: 40.5kt (ITA) 40.5kts (GBR);
Upwind Speed: 37.2kt (ITA) 37.4kt (GBR); Downwind Speed: 45.0kt (ITA) 44.8kt (GBR)
Average VMG: 25.1kts (ITA) 24.9kts (GBR)
Distance Sailed: 33,674meters (ITA) 34,027meters (GBR)
Tacks: 17 (ITA) 18 (GBR); Gybes 10 (ITA) 10 (GBR); Total Tacks/Gybes 27 (ITA) 28 (GBR)
Pre-Race Information
Weather Prognosis:
America’s Cup Weather Partner PredictWind has established a dedicated Race Weather Center that grants fans access to comprehensive daily weather updates, live webcam feeds, and past weather data complete with meteorologists’ daily narratives.
Forecast Race Day 18:
Monday 30th Sept
Monday, September 30
In the afternoon, a South-West wind of 10 to 15 knots is anticipated. The wind direction should remain steady at 220°, with gusts reaching up to 20 knots.
The sea state is projected to grow to 0.7 meters from 220° with a brief 3-second period.
It will be a bright day, with temperatures rising to 26°, reminiscent of summer weather.
Tuesday, October 1:
In the afternoon, South-Westerlies of around 10 to 15 knots are expected.
Virtual Eye
After the races, you can replay all key moments or the full race using Virtual Eye from ARL.
You can access the Virtual Eye coverage of the America’s Cup by clicking here and selecting “Watch Previous” to choose the race you’d like to see. Virtual Eye offers a 3D perspective, allowing you to zoom in, out, around, and up and down, much like you would in a helicopter.
Series Points
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