America’s Cup: Luna Rossa bites, Team New Zealand responds, final at 2-2

Day two of the America’s Cup Final between Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa marks the arrival of light winds on the race course. If anyone expected a verdict or trend from this series, they were disappointed.

Luna Rossa’s victory that set off the cheering flashlight on the Italian night (never has any Italian team won two challenges at the Cup Final, so Luna Rossa has already entered history) was answered by a clear-cut and distant Race 4 victory by the Kiwis. So the final does not yet have a master, the series is on 2-2, and one of the most beautiful and balanced America’s Cup finals in the history of the Trophy is looming. The start once again proves to be as decisive as ever; whoever wins it has a share of the match in their pocket. Back on the water in 24 hours, still with a light wind forecast.

ETNZL – RED MOON – THE CHRONICLE OF DAY 2

RACE 3

Start in very delicate conditions, with wind around 8 knots. New Zealand immediately very aggressive in contact in the pre-start. Luna Rossa gains the upwind position and gets off to a clean start, on the first tack near the boundary it veers at the same time and attacks from downwind with Checco Bruni’s high mode that sanctions the overtaking. Luna Rossa then goes into marking but not overly tight, it is a day to play on the wind as well.

A few chills on the back from a separation at the end of the first windward leg. Chill continues in the stern with huge separation, but Luna Rossa’s lead seems to hold, although the margin still remains small.

The separations continue and at the aft gate Team New Zealand seems to almost pounce on Luna Rossa. Split again at the start of the second upwind with the Italian boat moving decisively to the right and then going into marking. Luna still chooses the right side, sending New Zealand to the left. Luna Rossa’s upwind was excellent as she increased her lead in the battle of turns and gave herself a decidedly serene second stern without tight marking, and then returned to upwind coverage, still stretching in a major way. Relentless Team New Zealand’s loss on every tack. Luna Rossa maintains calm and control, diving into the last stern with a good lead despite the wind continuing to drop in intensity. The last stern is almost a formality, Luna brushes the last edges and goes for the second historic point of the series.

BOA 1 10 seconds LR

BOA 2 13 seconds

BOA 3 27 seconds

BOA 4 22 seconds

BOA 5 38 seconds

ARRIVAL 37 seconds

RACE 4

Wind decreasing to 8 knots. Very playful start on time on distance with New Zealand falling off the foils at one point. Spithilli sniffs blood and leans toward the New Zealanders to go on the attack, but the Kiwis stay off the foils for only a moment, and at that point Luna Rossa’s position is no longer very comfortable. Even start with Luna Rossa, however, going to tack immediately because it was too close to its opponent positioned downwind.

Italy’s AC 75 seems to thread a good right hander and comes to the starboard tack with New Zealand going lee bow and “bouncing” Luna Rossa to the right. Kiwi tactics seem to be working, and Te Reutai gains a small lead at the end of the first windward leg. The two boats race more on wind and pressure than on the opponent, each separation is in fact a great uncertainty, partly because the wind remains very light.

New Zealand seems in control but unwilling to engage in maneuvering battles, a sign that it seems to fear the maneuverability of the Italian boat, although the Kiwis do not seem slow at all anyway. Luna Rossa runs into a disastrous gybe at the end of the second stern for the maximum New Zealand advantage. Good control of Peter Burling and the upwind Kiwi cockpit, with the lead crystallized.

The Kiwis appear solid and unblemished, constantly looking for the wind and always with a good phase. The lead grows, and Burling in the last upwind decided to seal it by putting himself well in the mark. The race appears to be closed, with no opening for Luna Rossa to come back even in the last stern, with the Wikis going on to take a 2-2 lead in the series of a very balanced Cup final.

BOA 1 9 seconds TNZL

BOA 2 34 seconds

BOA 3 34 seconds

BOA 4 48 seconds

BOA 5 58 seconds

ARRIVAL 1 minute 03 seconds

Mauro Giuffrè

Everything that happened on the first day of America’s Cup racing between Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand we tell you in the March 10 episode of The Cup Newspaper at 1 p.m. Guests of Bacci Del Buono and Mauro Giuffrè will be Luca Bassani, David Ingiosi, Giulio Desiderato, and Federico Albano.

THE CALENDAR OF THE CUP NEWSPAPER

The Sailing Newspaper’s live Facebook and YouTube program will accompany you to and during this exciting America’s Cup Final. We will air on March 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 until the end of the series. What about the guests? There will be no shortage of them, any names? Luca Bassani, Fabio Pozzo, Flavia Tartaglini, Ganga Bruni, Maelle Frascari, Marta Magnano, Mino Taveri, Giovanni Ceccarelli, Paolo Semeraro, Giulio Desiderato, Andrea Casale and many others.

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HERE YOU WILL FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICA CUP AND RED MOON

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