Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli “eager to win”
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 25 Sep 10:05 PDT
Jimmy Spithill and Checco Bruni during the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals Media Conference © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
The excitement is building in Barcelona as the Louis Vuitton Cup finals approach, starting tomorrow, September 26, between Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Britannia.
The first team to reach 7 points will win the Challenger Selection Series and gain the chance to challenge the title holder, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the final Match of the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup. For the opening race, Luna Rossa will head into the pre-start area on port tack.
Today’s press conference leading up to the finals featured skippers Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni: “We’ve emerged from very challenging semifinals and now will face one of the toughest challengers this time around,” said the Australian helmsman. “I expect tough, closely contested races, and yes, it will be a genuine struggle to get ahead. That’s precisely the aim of Challenger Selections – to find the strongest and best-prepared challenger to compete against the Defender. We know the British crew well and their sailing style. We extensively analyzed it during the Round Robins, but we’re also aware that the team we’ll meet tomorrow is not the same as a few weeks ago. There are many factors to evaluate, but we are prepared. Since joining Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, I’ve learned how deeply Italy is connected to the sea, sailing, and the Cup. We are eager to win.”
“The line between victory and defeat will hinge on which team performs best in every area,” remarked Francesco “Checco” Bruni. “Facing Ineos in the final stage of the Challenger Selection Series feels reminiscent of the Auckland 2021 final, but these races will be very different. Compared to the last edition, the teams have evolved and improved, making performances much closer in terms of handling and speed. We just came through tough semifinals against a solid competitor, and I want to commend the entire team and crew for their efforts. Winning the America’s Cup is a dream Italy has pursued for years, and now we have the opportunity to achieve it. We’ll utilize all our resources. To our supporters, I say keep backing us; we need your support to feel connected. We must win together.”
Tomorrow is crucial for the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli youth team as they compete in the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup final against USA’s American Magic. This single match race will decide the champion of the Under 25 category. The final is slated to begin at 12:20 PM. After topping the elimination stage, the crew of Marco Gradoni, Gianluigi “Gigi” Ugolini, Federico Colaninno, and Rocco Falcone is determined to give their all and shine in the inaugural Youth America’s Cup.
“It all boils down to this one match race, and it will be a fierce battle,” said Marco Gradoni, starboard helmsman of the AC40 and captain of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli youth team. “The whole elimination series was challenging, especially the semifinals, partly due to the weather conditions. Now we face the USA team, which has proved to be a strong competitor and exhibited speeds very similar to ours. We’ll need to sail proficiently in the wind while executing flawless maneuvers, especially in these choppy seas. In racing, risks are always present, but tomorrow we’ll need to assess which risks to take very carefully, as penalties in a two-boat race can be perilous. I’m thrilled to be sailing alongside ‘Gigi’ Ugolini; we collaborate well and improve every day. Rocco Falcone and Federico Colaninno are outstanding trimmers. I would definitely choose this crew again.”
Port helmsman Gigi Ugolini added: “Being teamed with Marco is fantastic for me as well. He has sailed with Jimmy Spithill, Francesco Bruni, and Ruggero Tita and has shared his match-racing insights with us. We are very pleased with our results since they weren’t guaranteed. We’ve worked diligently to reach this point, but so have other teams, any of which could have progressed. The races have been intense and distinctive, occurring within a tight timeframe, and tomorrow will be a ‘one-shot’ final. I anticipate an enjoyable race, and with forecasts indicating swells, we’ll need to be very attentive to the boat while managing the match race simultaneously. It’s the first time we four are sailing together, but we are in sync, communicate effectively, and I feel we’ve navigated even the most complicated situations with professionalism and composure.”
Turning to land activities, the new Ocean&Climate Village was launched yesterday in the presence of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Women’s Team. This scientific, immersive, and interactive exhibition, curated by UNESCO-IOC and supported by the Prada Group as part of the SEA BEYOND educational initiative, has been set up at the Olympic Port and is part of the partnership between UNESCO and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli for the 37th America’s Cup to advocate for ocean conservation and education.
