Luna Rossa beats Alinghi and remains in the lead at Louis Vuitton Cup

Barcelona wakes up after a morning thunderstorm that finally moves the breeze a bit; 9-12 knots of wind are expected on the Catalan race course today, which should ensure that the program runs smoothly.
With each passing day the points are getting heavier and heavier, especially for those at the back of the leaderboard who need to latch on to fourth place, the last place valid for qualification for the semifinals. The fourth day of racing opens with a new technical problem for Alinghi, it would seem still at the mast, with the Swiss arriving resoundingly late for the start against Team New Zealand.
Inevitable penalty, with the match ending nay time.
Of a different tenor instead was the challenge between Ineos Britannia and Orient Express, who beat the crap out of each other, with Ben Ainslie going for an important point to move away from the hot zone of the standings and consolidate third place.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. Alinghi Red Bull Racing

Left wall entry for Alinghi, starboard for Luna. Alinghi escapes at the top of the box, succeeding from the line, to gybe back and line up with the Italians trying to break the pattern of the classic start.
The Swiss seem to want the right side of the field, as they give up “pushing” Luna Rossa to stay high and start separate from the Italian boat.
A plan that seems to succeed, with the two boats starting practically even.
Luna Rossa immediately goes for the high mode to close the lateral distance with Alinghi and make it “jump,” which succeeds almost immediately thanks to an excellent upwind angle of the Italian boat. At the next crossing the boats are very close and Luna Rossa, tacking to the left, narrowly passes.
Alinghi seems in this first phase to be able to keep up and the two boats arrive close to the windward gate, with Luna Rossa ahead by just 4 seconds.
Situation that does not seem to unlock in the first stern, with Alinghi trying to hang on to the race, desperately hunting for a victory that would move their ranking.
The Italian team, however, manages to secure a margin of just under 200 meters, which at the stern gate is worth 11 seconds.
Few, but enough to try to begin to administer and make the boat’s performance count.
Luna Rossa, however, does not brand tight and concedes a separation at the start of the second windward mark that, if it makes the fans tremble, turns out to be geometrically correct, however, because the Italian boat hooks a nice left and still gains about 100 meters.
Bruni and Spithill defend the left side of the field, a choice that pays off, with the lead expanding to 28 seconds at Gate 3.
The race at this point seems to be in control, although Alinghi downwind gains 7 seconds.
Luna Rossa’s strategy does not change for the last upwind, where she goes to defend the left side of the race course again, with Alinghi trying to sew it up by leading the Italian boat into a tacking duel.
At the last gate the Swiss reduce the gap to 16 seconds, forcing Luna Rossa to sweat the point to the last side.
Victory comes, perhaps more painfully than expected, but confirming Luna Rossa at the top of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Mauro Giuffrè

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