Ineos responds to Luna Rossa, the British are alive

It’s back on the water after the controversy over the Prada Cup final between Luna Rossa and Ineos, with winds from 9 to 13 knots. The British’s mood seems to have definitely changed with Ben Ainslie taking to the water on one of his typical days of competitive fury. He uses far too much of it in the first race, where Luna Rossa ends up dominating even through better performances. The British eventually found the crux of the matter in race 6 and managed to bring home the first point of the series, which now stands at 5 to 1 for the Italian boat. The British are alive, bringing home the first victory that is very important from a psychological point of view. It’s back on the water in 24 hours with a final that still seems far from willing to deliver its verdict.

RACE 1

Aggressive start by the British who try to stay much closer to Luna Rossa. Still excellent, however, was the positioning of Spithill-Bruni, who managed to hold downwind of Ineos and orzano to close the door at the start with a surgical time on distanche. The two boats eventually end up both starting early, but the start is all even, but halfway up the first windward Luna Rossa first makes a risky leebow that Ineos neutralizes, at the next crossing Luna Rossa also passes because Ineos touches a boundary and takes a penalty. In the stern Luna Rossa makes, even as Ineos shows itself to be particularly fast. At the aft gate Luna Rossa chooses the right gate, Ineos follows. At the beginning of the second windward mark on the first tack Ineos rests on the foils and Luna Rossa lengthens decisively also because Ineos seems to sail a couple of times in areas with little air. Luna Rossa’s solidity in maneuvering is granitic, still choosing the right buoy at the aft gate, only to be found already in cover as soon as Ben Ainslie turns in his turn. Small split conceded by Luna Rossa midway up the last upwind, and the choice seems to pay off with the lead increasing significantly. The race is closed, the last side is a mere formality with Luna Rossa going for the fifth point of the series.

BOA1: 15 seconds LR

BOA2: 20 seconds LR

BOA3: 58 seconds LR

BOA4: 1 minute 01

BOA5: 1 minute 19 LR

ARRIVAL: 1 minute and 20 seconds

RACE 2

The British still aggressive at the start and go for Luna Rossa’s downwind, which seems to want to go for the right. Start that ends even but with the British attached downwind of the Italian boat and Ineos stretching slightly and forcing Luna Rossa to tack. At the next junction UK ahead veering into the face of red MOON sending it still toward the right border. Significant separation afforded by UK, however, which seems well in phase with the wind and controls by going around the windward gate in the lead. Luna Rossa splits immediately astern but Ineos gybes almost simultaneously to mark. Luna Rossa responds again with a gybe back to the right, but the maneuver is not perfect and the Italian boat leaves a few dozen meters in the way. Ineos chooses the right gate aft, with Luna Rossa going into JK to split and Ineos immediately marking. Duel of upwind turns, with Luna Rossa trying to reopen the matche and Ineos continuing to close the door by responding. Marking loosening in the second upwind leg with the British seeming to have lost something in the duel of tacking but continuing to control.

The fourth stern began with Ineos always ahead, less in coverage and more on the wind shifts, and the strategy seemed to pay off as the British stretched well. Splita at the start of the last upwind, with Ineos on the right and Luna Rossa on the left seeming to get on a good pressure and reduce the gap considerably. Ineos then returns to tight coverage with Luna Rossa attacking furiously and still seeking separation. The race is in danger of reopening, with the boats very close together and a heart-pounding last stern. Ineos, however, repelled the latest attacks, and they went on to take the first point in the series that now goes to 5-1.

BOA 1: 8 seconds UK

BOA 2: 21 seconds

BOA 3: 18 seconds

BOA 4: 32 seconds

BOA 5: 9 seconds

ARRIVAL: 14 seconds

Mauro Giuffrè