Luna Rossa ends it 5-3: it’s Louis Vuitton Cup final vs. Britannia

Wind 8-10 knots from the south, wave less than 1 meter, these are the conditions under which thedecisive day of the semifinals of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli versus American Magic will be raced.
The Americans enter on port tack, Italians on starboard tack.
Aggressive Americans in trying to start by sailing on the bow of the Italian boat to bother with waste in the prestart.
Similar start as before, with Prada Pirelli being forced to tack immediately.
At the first crossing Slingsby and Fletcher tack into the face of Bruni-Spithill bouncing them on the right boundary.
At the second crossroads the pattern is repeated but the Americans’ tacking does not have the right timing and Luna Rossa manages to pass by presenting themselves at the head of the windward gate. Good news for the Italian boat because the Americans fail the layline and make an extra tack, forced to follow Luna Rossa.
An ideal situation for Luna Rossa, which has a good control over the opponent at this moment.
American Magic gybes in the middle of the stern and Luna Rossa does not follow, a positive choice for the Italian boat that thus, delaying the gybe, goes directly to the gate, keeping an excellent margin of 21 seconds. The second windward mark begins in control, with Luna crossing ahead comfortably, then going to cover.
She maneuvers American Magic a lot, and manages to gnaw seconds after gaining small separations.
Split at the gate that gives Luna Rossa a comfortable crossing anyway at the start of the second run.
A touch down by the Americans helps the Italian boat stretch the lead, which becomes more reassuring again before the start of the last upwind, 22 seconds.
Still diligently marking the Italian cockpit, which today seems intent on not leaving anything on the road.
Luna Rossa seems well in phase with the wind, with 400 meters of advantage to manage in this final part of the race.
Positive and effective communication aboard the Italian boat, with Checco Bruni particularly inspired.
In fact, the lead increases in this last upwind for the Italians.
The last downwind begins, Luna Rossa practically has the race in hand, with one foot in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
There is no more room to come back, the Italian boat goes quietly, closing the last gybes towards the Gate. It will be between Ineos Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup. We talk about it at 6:30 p.m. at Processo alla Coppa, guests of Mauro Giuffrè and Luca Sordelli will be Giovanni Ceccarelli (one of the most successful Italian designers with several Cup campaigns under his belt), Medea Falcioni (European and world iQfoil champion), Federico Albano (racer and analyst for Formulaunopassion), Ida Castiglioni (first Italian woman to cross the Atlantic in a race, sent to Barcelona).