First final races in Louis Vuitton Cup; and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli wins Youth America’s Cup
America’s Cup update: INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli have begun racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup final, and for the right to compete for the America’s Cup against Emirates Team New Zealand.
The teams ended with a win apiece after the first day’s races – the Italians taking the first, the Brits the second. Now both camps are saying they are in very good moods.
“We know we’re in a fight but that’s the way we want it to be,” says INEOS’ skipper Ben Ainslie.
“It was amazing racing out there but really tough in those conditions. It was a challenge for both teams and a fair result coming away with a win each.
“We’re obviously frustrated with the first race, so it was important to come away with the win in the second. We managed to get the lead in that race and do a good job protecting. The cyclors did an amazing job generating the power to get the boat round that course. We look forward to going again on Saturday.
“The thing that’s hard when you’re watching is to understand how difficult these boats are to sail, we were totally red lining it all day, the foils were cavitating, literally every foil, and trying to manage the boat in those circumstances it seriously takes every ounce of focus and concentration and fitness from the cyclors to get the power down, so full team effort on a day like today, but it was great fun.
“I honestly thought the performance was pretty even in both teams, both boats sailed a good race each and it’s going to be a good battle. Obviously we were frustrated about the first race, we had a look at getting a hook and didn’t get that on the start, and that put us in a bad spot and they had a nice race there. We made a few little mistakes in that first race, so it was really important to come back with a win in the second,” says Ainslie.
“We had a god chat with our coaches in the break and managed to figure out a few things, to help us sail the boat a bit cleaner, and that paid off.”
Matt Sheahan, Planetsail, says there are two things that stand out from the first day’s racing. The first is how the Italians improved their boat’s performance in the stronger breeze and the second was the British upgrade between the two races.
“Ben said they sailed the boat better, I’m sure they did but with boats that have more software upgrades than your laptop I wonder whether this was the key too?”
Two very evenly-matched teams in Louis Vuitton Cup final
Jimmy Spithill, starboard helmsman of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, came ashore looking relaxed about the pressure. “We’ve seen it all along, these are two very evenly-matched teams, and we were expecting a tough series and today showed that both teams can win races.” He says the team will now spend a lot of time going through the data and the video. He believes he’s in for ‘one helluva series’. “We’re one mistake away from a lead change given where we are – in the pointy end of the race competition.
“I thought the performances were pretty similar, they made a couple of errors manoeuvre-wise in that first race and we were able to step out. In the second race they sailed it very clean so performance-wise there not a whole lot in it but obviously we’ll be checking on that.
“These conditions were definitely up there with big waves, right on the limit on the breeze, so a mistake is, as always, just around the corner. In that first one they were hoping we would make a couple and then vice versa but that’s what you want, you want to be pushed, and you want a fight.”
Ainslie says it was a seriously full-on day. “We’ve only sailed the boat close to that much breeze once and not in a sort of racing scenario so there was plenty to figure out. I’m sure it’s the same for Luna Rossa as well and they obviously did a much better job in that first race so I was pleased that the team regrouped and came back and got a win in the second.
“It’s a phenomenal boat to sale. It’s really hard to explain to people just how accurate you have to be, and how much power it consumes. It’s a huge test of technology and physical human control.”
The Louis Vuitton Cup final resumes on Saturday, with two more races scheduled.
UniCredit Youth America’s Cup won by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli dominated the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup final with a comprehensive victory over NYYC American Magic in a high-adrenaline, six-leg, race sailed in winds up to 18 knots and big waves.
The Italians, a class apart, led from start to finish, showing consistent and conservative front-running, after capitalising on an early startbox entry penalty for NYYC American Magic.
Wild scenes of celebration were seen onboard Luna Rossa after the race with this tight-knit team – who have been the model of focus and quiet determination throughout the event – finally letting off steam and spraying the Juvé & Camps cava with abandon.
“This moment is important because we worked a lot for this and now we have achieved our goal,” says Marco Gradoni, the figurehead not only of the youth team but of Italian youth sailing. “I really want to thank everyone, the coach, the shore team, the tech team, everyone really because it was super hard to get here at this level. But we did it and it’s an amazing feeling.”
Max Sirena, skipper and team director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, says it was a positive day.
“We started with the victory of our youth team in the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, and seeing the pride and excitement in their eyes on the finish line gives you extraordinary energy; I’m really happy for them. Today we raced the first two finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup against Ineos Britannia. The first race was great, but even the second one, even though we lost, leaves us with a positive feeling because we sailed well. We’ll analyze what we could have done better, but the overall assessment is good. These were likely the ideal conditions for them, so we learned a lot.”
Main image courtesy of INEOS Britannia media centre.
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