Britannia-Luna Rossa bump, the final goes to 3-3

Luna Rossa vs Ineos Britannia – match 5

Luna sails left, Britannia sails starboard, with the Italians entering this time very punctual and not as in race 4.
Bruni-Spithill head to the right of the box, Ben Ainslie tries to put pressure from behind.
He seems to want the right Britannia, but Luna Rossa in a pre-start crossing falls off the foils and totally misses the start. Ben Ainslie and Dylan Fletcher immediately mark on ours, with Luna Rossa, however, looking very quick with these conditions.
In fact, the Italian boat gives the feeling of being almost faster than the British despite often being covered by Britannia. The British turn the Gate with only a 5-second lead, forced to concede the split.
The first stern crossing still sees them ahead by a little, but the feeling is that nonetheless Luna Rossa can keep the race open.
And indeed the two boats arrive at the stern gate paired with Luna managing to take the right.
She holds the crossing, however, Britannia, which fends off the Italians’ attack and manages to pull back to the right at this start of the second windward mark.
Good defense by Britannia, which does not concede any more separation to Luna Rossa and is still ahead at the start of the second run.
Side that runs off without a jolt, with Britannia slightly consolidating its margin. She concedes a big Ben Ainslie separation at the start of the third upwind, totally leaving the right to Luna Rossa, who has a good chance to shorten a few lengths and come back threateningly.
Britannia crosses in front but continues not to mark conceding separations to the Italians who in fact come back to just 5 seconds behind.
Third stern that starts with Luna Rossa very close to the British, who however after the first gybe accelerate well and take back some tens of meters.
Ben Ainslie in fact finishes in control this third stern, but Bruni-Spithill nevertheless stay in the game.
Also because Britannia makes a bad turn and the race totally reopens in the last upwind.
The boats are two lengths apart, a tight tacking duel begins where this time, however, Britannia covers tight.
It pays off for the Brits’ tactics, holding Luna Rossa in the garbage sends her back a few dozen meters.
The last stern is balanced, with Luna Rossa staying in touch, but no overtaking chances open up, the British do nothing wrong and go on to take the 3-2 point with 12 seconds to spare.

Luna Rossa vs Ineos Britannia – match 6

Ineos enters tack to port, Luna tack to starboard, weather conditions unchanged with 16-19 knots of wind.
Luna Rossa seems to want the right tack definitely, and eventually succeeds, even getting good separation on the line and coming out fast.
She holds close to Ineos but is forced to tack a bit before the boundary.
Good speed of the Italian boat that seems to be able to gain on the right. Tight first crossing, with Luna Rossa eventually managing to put the bow a whisker ahead.
It is 4 seconds ahead at the first gate.
It slightly lengthens in the stern the tricolor boat, which keeps Ineos under control.
Second windward mark with Ineos held on a fairly reassuring lead and Luna Rossa is careful to replicate tack after tack.
In order to break free Ainslie makes an extra tack and tries a split at the second windward gate.
Separation, however, yields nothing for Britannia, which does not seem at this moment to be able to shorten, and starts the third windward mark still over 200 meters apart.
Luna Rossa does not tremble and responds to all the tacking of the opponents, keeping in mark even in the third downwind.
Small opportunity for Ineos at the beginning of the last upwind with Luna conceding a separation but it results in a minimal gain for the British.
There seems to be no more risk for Luna Rossa even in the last stern, with the Italian crew comfortably going for the tie point.
It’s back on the water tomorrow at 3-3.