Britannia places the break, Luna Rossa’s back is to the wall: 6-4 final
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Wave formed on the Barcelona race course for the fifth day of the Louis Vuitton Cup finals, with a southeasterly wind of 16 to 18 knots initially, then picked up in the second race with really tough conditions. It was a dramatic day sportingly for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, which lost two races in a row, the first perhaps also affected by a less than perfect choice of headsail.
In the second, however, the British are better, with a solid performance despite extreme conditions for the AC 75. The series thus goes to 6-4, with three match points available for Britannia to close the account.
It’s back on the water on Friday, in a day that promises to have epic overtones. We talk about it today at 6:30 p.m. on Trial to the Cup. We will have the pleasure of having guest Gabriele “Ganga” Bruni , a great sailor and now also one of the most successful coaches in the history of Italian Olympic sailing.
For a very rich episode with him there will be Giovanni Ceccarelli, Daniele Cassinari, President North Sails Italy, Federico Albano, our performance analyst from FormulaPassion, and Ida Castiglioni from Barcelona, the first Italian woman to cross the Atlantic in a regatta and a passionate narrator of the America’s Cup.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs Ineos Britannia – match 9
Luna tacked to the left in the pit entry, with a super aggressive Ben Ainslie going after the Italian boat.
Out comes a start with great separation, with Luna Rossa defending all things considered well in the prestart from British attacks.
First cross with Luna Rossa on starboard tack passing.
Second crossing, however, is with Ineos starboard tack, Luna passing behind.
Last crossing for Gate again with Luna Rossa on starboard tack and the two boats separate at the start of the first stern virtually paired.
Britannia passes at theL’ crossing, perhaps taking advantage of a small wind swing as well as good speed.
They hold the lead, the Brits stretching in the second part of the stern to a 12-second margin.
Second windward mark with Ben Ainslie in control veering into mark , the Italians still clinging to the match with a 9-second disadvantage.
Touch down by the British just before the gybe that costs a few tens of meters.
Third windward mark with Britannia seeing its lead shrink to 7 seconds, but Luna coming out of the turn for a moment loses the leeward foil and pays dearly for the mistake seeing the delay increase beyond 200 meters.
Ben Ainslie seems to be in control in this second part of the race, in the third run he sails well on the gusts, with Luna Rossa not seeming able to come back at this time.
Unable toD shorten any more the Italian boat, Britannia brings the series to 5-4.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs Ineos Britannia – match 10
Luna Rossa comes in on starboard tack, tries to be aggressive but in the end the start is won by Ben Ainslie, with the Italian boat ending up a little behind Britannia.
She looks fast though Luna Rossa and threatening on Ineos who in fact tries to mark tight.
The delay of is only 3 seconds at the first Gate.
Britannia stretches Britannia in the first stern, with a race that at this point becomes uphill and weighs heavily on the series of this Louis Vuitton Cup final.
The British seem careful in marking, and there is no difference in performance such that Luna Rossa can only come back in speed.
Moment of difficulty, however, for Ineos at the end of the second run in boat control with the Italian boat making a comeback.
Luna Rossa very aggressive in the third upwind, engaging the British in a battle of tight tacking.
The wind and wave seem to be increasing, with the intensity now seeming really on the limit.
She defends well in the third windward mark Britannia, coming back to regain.
It holds Ben Ainslie, although the maneuvers are really difficult because of a wave that is now important with the boats on the limit.
The last stern gives Luna Rossa a small comeback, with Britannia seeming to struggle in the last gybe but going for the 6-4 point and breaking the balance of the series. Mauro Giuffrè
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