Luna Rossa triumphs over American Magic to advance to the LV Final against INEOS Britannia
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 19 Sep 08:22 PDT
18 September 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli advances to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final – 19th September 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
For the fifth time, following the editions of 2000, 2007, 2013, and 2021, Luna Rossa will take part in the final of the Challenger Selection Series. Today, the Italian crew overcame the American team with a score of 5-3 and will face off against INEOS Britannia in the final knockout phase of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
This achievement brought immense satisfaction to the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team as they clinched their fifth and deciding point in the semifinals against the USA. Today’s win was even more gratifying, given the tremendous effort from the team—especially the shore team—who toiled throughout the night to fix the mainsail control system, which had caused their defeat in the second match yesterday.
“Today is a great day because we have finally completed the series against American Magic, and it was more difficult than anticipated,” said Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. “Ultimately, this is what makes sports and the America’s Cup exciting; nothing is ever straightforward. We gained a lot of insights from these eight races, which we will apply in the final races. Today’s victory is a testament to both the sailing team and the shore crew, who worked tirelessly until nine this morning to rectify yesterday’s damage, allowing us to present a completely reliable boat. Now we’ll take a brief moment to unwind before diving back into preparations.”
MATCH #08 – USA vs ITA
The last match of the semifinals occurred in a southerly wind of 7-12 knots, which provided ample lift for the AC75s. Right from the start, Luna Rossa took the lead, choosing the right side of the course and rounding gate 1 with a 20-second advantage, maintaining that gap at the downwind gate. During the second beat, the lead reduced to 8 seconds, making the race competitive. The Italian crew kept their composure and skillfully managed the opponent, avoiding errors and unnecessary risks. Luna Rossa expanded its lead to over 500 meters and crossed the finish line with more than a minute to spare, securing its well-earned place in the Louis Vuitton Cup final.
Today’s Luna Rossa crew included Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni at the helm, supported by Umberto Molineris and Andrea Tesei as trimmers. The on-board cyclors were Enrico Voltolini, Bruno Rosetti, Cesare Gabbia, and Emanuele Liuzzi.
