Luna Rossa beats American Magic but Ben Ainslie is now scary

Sunshine, a westerly thermal breeze around 15 knots and a cross long wave in Barcelona for the penultimate day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin.
Luna rossa goes in the hunt for the mathematical lead that would give it the chance to choose its opponent in the semifinals.
To do so it needs two wins, against American Magic and Ineos Britannia.
In the other matches Ineos beats Alinghi, American Magic wins over the French, and Team New Zealand beats Alinghi again.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – American Magic

Even start with the Americans managing to defend themselves well but at the first crossing Luna Rossa has the right and passes, albeit just barely.
Luna Rossa seems effective in the turns, giving the impression of losing less speed than American Magic.
Luna responds well to a leebow by the Americans, passing to windward of the opponent, giving the idea of having very good control of the boat.
The Italian team accompanies American Magic to the right layline and comfortably rounds the first mark with a 14-second margin.
Situation that in the stern, however, seems to be partly reversed with American Magic coming back dangerously under at just 3 seconds.
Tight crossings in the second windward mark, with the two boats repeatedly exchanging positions.
Luna Rossa, however, keeps the lead ahead albeit just barely, with AM held at 7 seconds.
Luna Rossa’s show of strength in the second downwind, which in the close speed test puts the opponents on the gas by applying themselves in a careful match race, which is worth an important gain: 19 seconds.
Luna Rossa at that point administers, ending the race 22 seconds ahead.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. Ineos Britannia

Last match of the day against the British who seemed more comfortable in today’s stiff breeze.
Wind still consistent with 15 full knots and the boats opting for J3.
Pre start basically even with the two boats starting separately but with Luna Rossa on the right.Britannia very fast in the first speed test of the race, manages to take an important first lead and put the bow ahead.
Convincing Ben Ainslie’s team today, they immediately close the door in the face of the Italian boat, with very convincing performances that allow them to turn ahead at the windward gate.
A lead that Britannia retains even at the leeward mark, an 8-second margin, confirming the consistency of the British boat today in a stiff wind.
Second windward mark with Luna Rossa going on the attack headlong trying to make the British maneuver, but they leave no room for recovery.
Upwind Britannia also seems to have a few more speed cues.
Ben Ainslie stretches upwind and controls the race now smoothly, with a 29-second margin.
Regatta in fact offering no other excitement, apart from a boring Britannia diving, Ineos then manages to administer until the end without smearing going on to take a point that weighs so much, positively, on the morale of the British.
We talk about it in a very short time, at 6 p.m., on Il Processo alla Coppa, live with Mauro Giuffrè and Luca Sordelli there will be Federico Albano, Riccardo Ravagnan, Ida Castiglioni, Luca Bassani.

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