Cup Spy: Luna Rossa advances to Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Final
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ, September 19, 09:25 PDT
Luna Rossa and American Magic congratulate each other – Semi-Finals – Louis Vuitton Cup – Day 14 – September 19, 2024 – Barcelona © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
After the excitement of yesterday’s races, where New York YC’s team American Magic fought back from a 4-1 deficit to 4-3, their outcome was sealed in just 23 minutes of sailing in winds of 9-11 knots with 20° shifts.
The match between the second and third qualifiers from the Round Robin was always destined to be closely contested, in stark contrast to the other Semi-Final between the British and Swiss teams, which was finalized yesterday.
Luna Rossa’s shore team made significant efforts to repair the damage from the traveller explosion during yesterday’s race, and their hard work paid off as Luna Rossa secured a Finals berth in just the first race.
Today’s race effectively concluded in its early phases, when American Magic narrowly crossed Luna Rossa’s bow and instantly executed a covering tack, which should have placed the Italians in the turbulence of Patriot’s rig. However, Luna Rossa managed to gain enough speed to foil downwind and emerge on the other side in clean air. American Magic managed to close the gap to an 8-second deficit at Mark 3, but catching up is one thing, passing is another – and that was as close as it got.
American Magic will likely wonder if the result would have been different had their skipper and Olympic Gold medalist Paul Goodison not taken a fateful step backward into an open hatch nearly two weeks ago, which left him with five broken ribs and out of the sailing crew. Backup co-helmsman Lucas Calabrese took his place, having just five days of experience sailing the AC75, meaning the Argentine Olympic Bronze medalist faced a steep learning curve. He performed admirably, striving to fill Paul Goodison’s big shoes. Ultimately, American Magic was a formidable competitor, but recovering from a 4-0 deficit after the opening weekend was no easy task.
Much of the responsibility fell on Australian Olympic Gold medalist and three-time SailGP World champion Tom Slingsby, who attributed their loss in today’s Match 8 of the nine-race series to tactical errors on his part. Goodison’s fall, however, sealed Patriot’s fate. The synergy between two Olympic Gold medalists and both foiling Moth World champions, who had 70 days of shared AC75 sailing experience, could not be replaced just before the onset of a sudden death five-race knockout series.
The strength of the Goodison/Slingsby pairing could very well have been enough to prevent Luna Rossa from taking a four-win lead after the previous weekend’s competition – a feat that would have required an effort akin to Australia II to overcome.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, currently on their sixth or seventh challenge – depending on how one interprets their 2017 effort – seemed nearly unbeatable during the Preliminary Regatta, but they suffered three consecutive losses in the Semi-Final. They could have been the top qualifiers had it not been for a software issue with their starboard foil arm mechanism, allowing INEOS Britannia to leap ahead of them in the overall standings.
The stage is now set for a rematch of the 2021 Challenger Final in Auckland, with INEOS Britannia once again facing Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
If the British team wins, it will mark their first America’s Cup Match since Sovereign in 1964, piloted by Peter Scott, son of Scott of the Antarctic.
A win for Luna Rossa in the Challenger Final will be their third America’s Cup Match.
All four semi-finalists made significant improvements throughout the series, addressing their weaknesses rather than amplifying their strengths. Each team has focused on enhancing communication and skillfully navigating the wind pressure pockets to identify crucial lifts and knocks essential for achieving their target VMGs.
A key area for improvement remains foiling effectively in winds of 5 knots or less, perfecting tacks and gybes, and potentially refining tacking or maneuvering in super-light conditions.
The races in the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup have been postponed until tomorrow, Friday.
Commentary:
Catch today’s racing live here:
Race Summary:
Semi Final 1 – Match 8: American Magic (USA) vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA)
Both AC75s converged in the starboard corner of the pre-start area before breaking away 30 seconds before the start. They both approached the line early with the USA leading down the course. The ITA team, following their coaches’ guidance, opted to go into shore first. The USA got ahead of the ITA on their initial cross, and the two teams split tacks again. Ultimately, the USA crossed the ITA while on port and tacked for a close cover on the ITA. The ITA had the speed to sail through the USA’s turbulent wake and exit into clean air.
Mark 1: 04:03 ITA led USA by 20 seconds. Distance on water 275 meters on Leg 2. The USA aimed for the starboard boundary and returned at 40.5 knots at Gate 2.
Mark 2: 07:25 ITA led USA by 21 seconds. Distance on water 300 meters on Leg 3. Both teams worked to maintain phase rather than having LRPP cover, and the USA gained on LRPP’s lead, closing to 87 meters before heading for opposite gates – LRPP on the port gate.
Mark 3: 12:03 ITA led USA by 8 seconds. ITA moved into the port corner, extending to a 300-meter lead after the USA went into the starboard corner and boundary. Wind measured at 11.4 knots. The USA had a minor touchdown during a gybe.
Mark 4: 15:27 ITA led USA by 22 seconds. Distance 370 meters on Leg 4. The ITA extended to 500 meters on Leg 4. The USA had to tack an extra time to reach the mark.
Mark 5: 19:36 ITA led USA by 51 seconds. Distance on the water 700 meters.
Finish: 22:56 ITA led USA by 61 seconds. ITA advances to the LVC Challenger Final.
Weather Forecast:
America’s Cup Weather Partner PredictWind has set up a dedicated Race Weather Center for fans to access detailed daily weather forecasts, live webcams, and historical weather data along with daily updates by meteorologists.
Provisional Forecast for Race Day 14:
Thursday, September 19
From Arnaud Monges – former America’s Cup Team Meteorologist
Winds will be light and variable in the morning. By midday, a southerly flow will begin to establish itself, building from 6 to 11 knots throughout the afternoon’s racing. Waves will reach 0.8 meters from the East with a 6-second period. The alignment of the wind and waves will pose challenges for foiling. The weather will be partly sunny with some clouds, little chance of precipitation, and land temperatures reaching 23°C.
Friday, September 20
The weather is expected to worsen with rain and showers anticipated throughout the day. The afternoon will see Easterly winds around 5 to 10 knots, but these winds may be inconsistent due to rain. Look for our next update before race time on Friday morning for the latest model predictions.
While awaiting coverage to commence, you can check the following:
Virtual Eye
After the races, you can replay highlights or the entire event using Virtual Eye from ARL.
You can access the Virtual Eye America’s Cup coverage directly by clicking here and selecting “Watch Previous” to pick the race you wish to view. Virtual Eye offers a 3D viewing experience, allowing you to zoom in, out, around, and up and down just as one would in a helicopter.
Inside Tack:
INEOS Britannia’s Freddie Carr converses with Giles Scott and Dylan Fletcher as they analyze the previous day’s sailing. It’s always an honest and informative show.
Proposed Match Schedule:
Semi Final 1 – Match 8: American Magic (USA) vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA)
Semi Final 1 – Match 9: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) vs. American Magic (USA)
Course Location:
Crew Lists
