Youth America’s Cup: Day 7 – Italy leads as Semi-Finalist, but the second Final spot is uncertain
by America’s Cup/Sail-World 24 Sep 09:17 PDT
24 September 2024
Luna Rossa – AC40 – UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, Race Day 7 – September 24, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
The Semi-Finals of the Youth America’s Cup took place on Tuesday, featuring the top three qualifiers from Groups A and B.
Italy, the USA, and Great Britain advanced from Group A (comprising the AC Challenger/Defender teams), while three teams in Group B, comprising invited teams not directly associated with America’s Cup entrants, competed. The leading two teams from today’s races will move on to a single Match Race Final on Thursday, deciding the champion and runner-up, before Races 1 and 2 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final series on the tournament’s opening day.
As anticipated, the Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, helmed by 20-year-old Marco Gradoni—one of the fleet’s youngest yet experienced skippers—led the competition. Gradoni, a three-time World Optimist Champion, steered the Luna Rossa AC40 during the second Preliminary regatta, alongside double Olympic Gold medalist Ruggero Tita in Jeddah, finishing second overall, just behind Emirates Team New Zealand.
The American Magic Youth Team secured the second overall position and became the other Finalist after a close contest with Athena Pathways from Great Britain, who finished fourth and fifth, just one point apart in the last race. American Magic Youth will now proceed as the second finalist.
Livestream of Racing:
Race Summaries:
Race 1: ITA led a trio from the pin end of the start line, including USA and SWE. ESP and GBR sailed on port tack behind the fleet, heading toward the starboard boundary. At the initial cross, ITA (port tack, give way boat) incurred a penalty for sailing too near to SWE (starboard, right of way). GBR followed in third. ITA delayed rectifying their penalty, leading to a second sanction. They cleared penalties after rounding the first mark.
Mark 1: SWE and ESP rounded tied for the lead.
Mark 2: SWE rounded at 6m 28s post-start, with ITA just 2 secs back in third. SWE lost the lead but reclaimed it on Leg 3.
Mark 3: SWE rounded at 10m 39s, ITA was 11 secs behind, with ESP trailing by 13 secs.
Finish: SWE crossed at 13m 15s from the start, with ITA just 12 secs behind, followed by GBR (+18secs), ESP (+19secs), USA (+20secs), AUS (+37secs).
Race 2:
Wind reportedly at 17-18kts, showing 10kts gusting to 15kts from 190° on Arts Hotel.
Start: AUS, ESP, and SWE were penalized for OCS. All penalties were cleared, letting ITA cross to the starboard boundary with wind at 17kts. USA took the lead on Leg 1 heading to Mark 1, while SWE fell back 303 metres to clear another penalty.
Mark 1: USA rounded at 3m 37s, ITA (+1sec). AUS (+9secs), GBR(+12secs), ESP (+17secs), SWE.
Mark 2: USA rounded at 6m 24s, ITA (+1sec), AUS (+8secs), GBR (+11secs), ESP (+20secs), SWE (+37secs).
Mark 3: USA rounded at 10m 45secs, ITA (+2secs), GBR (+10secs), ESP (+18secs), AUS (+18secs), SWE (+32secs).
Finish: USA crossed at 13m 19secs, followed by ITA (+3secs), GBR (+10secs), ESP (+27secs), SWE (+33secs), AUS (+40secs).
Race 3:
Mark 1: GBR rounded at 3m 58secs, with ITA (0secs), USA (2secs), SWE (9secs), ESP (11secs), AUS (27secs).
Mark 2: ITA rounded at 7m 3secs, GBR (+2secs), USA (+6secs), SWE (+17secs), ESP (+19secs), AUS (+33secs).
Mark 3: ITA rounded at 11m 34secs, GBR (+7secs), USA (+10secs), SWE (+22secs), AUS (+33secs), ESP (+45secs).
Finish: ITA crossed at 14m 30secs, with GBR (+5secs), USA (+14secs), SWE (+39secs), AUS (+41secs), ESP (+51secs).
Race 4:
Mark 1: AUS rounded at 3m 46secs, with USA (+12secs), ESP (+13secs), GBR (+15secs), ITA (+23secs), SWE (+39secs).
Mark 2: AUS rounded at 6m 49secs, ESP (+16secs), ITA (+19secs), USA (+24secs), GBR (+24secs), SWE (+42secs).
Mark 3: AUS rounded at 11m 26secs, ITA (+15secs), ESP (+20secs), USA (+26secs), GBR (+30secs), SWE (+35secs).
Finish: AUS concluded at 14m 23secs, ITA (+09secs), ESP (+15secs), USA (+20secs), GBR (+37secs), SWE (+44secs).
Points:
1. ITA 31pts
2. USA 20pts
3. GBR 19pts
4. SWE 16pts
5. AUS 14pts
6. ESP 12pts
