Louis Vuitton Cup Day 7: A victory and a defeat for Luna Rossa
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 7 Sep 19:16 BST
7 September 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. INEOS Britannia on Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin Day 7 - 7th September 2024 © David Maynard /
www.alleycatphotographer.com
With still one race to go, Luna Rossa stays in the lead in the standings after a day of mixed results, with a win against the Americans and a loss in the match against the British team.
Today's racecourse was very challenging for all teams competing in the Round Robins of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The choppy waves, gusty wind and debris in the water required a huge focus from the helmsmen and trimmers as they concentrated on tactics and strategy and the cyclors worked hard to keep the boats in proper foiling trim.
"We are very happy with this race", said Francesco "Checco" Bruni at the end of the match against NYYC American Magic. "It wasn't easy nor a given. The boat performed very well, we made the right tactical and strategic decisions, and overall, the team did a great job. Kudos to the cyclors because it was a very tough race for them".
MATCH #22 - USA vs ITA
Starting windward of NYYC American Magic, Luna Rossa tacked immediately after crossing the line and headed to the right side of the course. From that moment the two boats engaged in an "old-school" match race, with tight and frequent crossings and changes in leadership, staying close both in distance and speed.
The choppy sea and patchy wind contributed to a very complex crew effort to maintain the correct foiling trim and the utmost concentration of the afterguard as they worked hard to make the best tactical and strategic choices. After rounding the first gate with a 14-second lead, Luna Rossa was able to keep the advantage through the next marks, although by only a few seconds. In the final leg the Italian boat stretched forward and significantly increased the gap with the USA team, using the distance to control its opponent until crossing the finish line with a 20-second advantage.
Winner: ITA (+1)
MATCH #25 - ITA vs GBR
In the second match, raced in over 16 knot-winds, Luna Rossa crossed the line windward of the British boat, but the Ineos immediately stretched forward in the first upwind leg, showing high speeds in these conditions.
The Italian crew didn't relent and kept the race close trying to reduce the gap and force its opponent into a mistake. GBR however blocked all attempts to a comeback and held the lead until the finish.
Luna Rossa's crew today featured Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni at the helm, with Umberto Molineris and Andrea Tesei as trimmers. As for the cyclors, Bruno Rosetti, Cesare Gabbia and Nicholas Brezzi sailed in both races, while Luca Kirwan alternated with Emanuele Liuzzi.