Luna Rossa win Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final to set up INEOS Britannia showdown

The fifth day of racing within the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Ultimate would see solely two groups out on the water after INEOS Britannia clinched the primary spot within the Louis Vuitton Cup Ultimate, having knocked Alinghi Crimson Bull Racing out of the competitors in yesterday’s racing.

However the as we speak, Thursday 19 September was set to be essential. With Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on 4 wins and American Magic on three wins within the first-to-five-series and two races scheduled, considered one of these groups would see their America’s Cup desires over by the top of the afternoon.

The climate was as a result of be just like the situations we have now seen by many of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals and Spherical Robins, with a 6-10 knot breeze forecast from the south and fairly massive swell too.

The massive query on everybody’s lips was to what extent has Luna Rossa been capable of restore their broken traveller, which spectacularly failed on the ultimate downwind of their second race yesterday, crippling the Italian boat and handing the Individuals their third consecutive win of the sequence.

And for these of us hoping for a continuation of the shut battle between these two boats, it was a reduction to see Luna Rossa heading out onto the water wanting absolutely repaired and prepared for racing.

Key takeaways from the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Ultimate Day 5

Luna Rossa Vs INEOS Britannia units up a repeat of 2021’s Challenger remaining
No clear signal of any continued structural points for Luna Rossa
One other misplaced begin for the Italian group could also be a priority

SkippersAmerican Magic: Lucas Calabrese & Tom SlingsbyLuna Rossa Prada Pirelli: Jimmy Spithill & Francesco Bruni

Though the forecast was for wind on the lighter finish of the vary, race time dawned with an honest 11 knots throughout many of the course. It was nonetheless somewhat patchy as we had seen for yesterday’s racing, however nothing just like the extraordinarily difficult situations we have now witnessed in Barcelona of late.

Within the pre-start American Magic have been the primary group to gybe round on the proper hand boundary and lead again to the beginning. Luna Rossa have been comfortable to allow them to go initially and tacked round to gauge off nicely to windward. Spithill and Bruni then put their foot all the way down to attempt to bear away behind the Individuals and try and get beneath them to hook them. Nevertheless it was a simple defend for Slingsby and Calabrese who bore away too to cowl off the try.

However that had put the Italian boat very near American Magic off their windward hip as they hit the startline and Spithill and Bruni tacked off straight out of the beginning. First blood to American Magic.

On the first cross American Magic was within the lead and Slingsby and Calabrese elected to tack useless in entrance of the starboard-tacked Luna Rossa.

Luna Rossa tacked immediately with a small quantity of distance to the proper hand layline, which means they would want to do a number of tacks in fast succession. However the proper hand aspect of the course had a contact extra wind and when the 2 boats subsequent crossed, with Luna Rossa as soon as once more on starboard, American Magic have been nonetheless forward however the hole was shrinking.

American Magic tried to do repeat their earlier trick and tack in entrance of Luna Rossa. However the hole had come down considerably and the Italians have been capable of foot beneath the Individuals, get even with them and squeeze up right into a excessive mode to pressure the Individuals to tack away.

The important thing second of the race. Picture: Ian Roman / America’s Cup

This transfer, coupled with a poor layline name from Slingsby and Calabrese noticed Luna Rossa with a 20 second lead across the first windward gate.

As soon as once more there was little to decide on between the 2 boats in pure tempo phrases, and the downwind noticed the boats pretty even. In the long run it was American Magic who rounded the left gate mark 21 seconds again from Luna Rossa, who took the alternative mark.

Luna Rossa had picked the higher gate, sending them to the favoured aspect of the course to lock of their lead after which did an honest job of preserving a free cowl on their American competitors.

However there have been positive factors available within the patchy situations and American Magic managed to get again inside 100m of Luna Rossa by the highest mark – a spot that had been as much as 400m within the early a part of the leg.

Across the second windward gate, American Magic had closed the hole to a mere 8 seconds, but it surely was Luna Rossa as soon as once more heading out the higher aspect of the course, having rounded the left hand gate mark (wanting upwind).

And as soon as once more Spithill and Bruni confirmed simply how spectacular the Italian group could be, crusing a managed downwind to guide by 22 seconds on the leeward gate.

Luna Rossa was wanting a refined group and attached the shifts on the ultimate windward leg. With fewer choices on the desk, and the end looming ever-closer, American Magic additionally needed to take a barely riskier tactical technique.

As such the lead actually blew out on the ultimate upwind to see American Magic around the windward gate for the final time absolutely 51 seconds behind and in want of a miracle to maintain their America’s Cup dream alive.

However one other unlikely America’s Cup comeback was to not be and Luna Rossa cruised down the ultimate leg to take the win and in so doing ebook their place within the Louis Vuitton Cup Ultimate, the place they may meet INEOS Britannia.

“We’re tremendous comfortable. Nearly greater than once we gained the Prada Cup in Auckland, it’s been a improbable journey these tremendous semi-finals. We had some stress for certain but it surely was nice to answer strongly to that stress,” mentioned a clearly elated Franscesco Bruni after racing – as soon as he completed whooping and hollering.

“The final 24 hours have been the hardest for the shore group, however we’re a brilliant robust group and They deserve this… Everybody deserves this.”

“To start with I’d prefer to congratulate American Magic for placing up one hell of a battle,” mentioned ‘Spithill. “We acquired to 4-0 up and they’re a champion group they usually confirmed that.”

“Congratulations to Luna Rossa, the higher group gained,” mentioned a deflated Tom Slingsby. “We’ve acquired to carry our heads excessive – as a lot as I’m rueing just a few of my unhealthy selections throughout that race. An enormous thanks to everybody within the American Magic household from all our supporters and household who’re tirelessly with us by the shore group for the work they did on the boat to the designers and sailors and administration.”

Luna Rossa rejoice as they cross the road to win. Picture: Ian Roman / America’s Cup

What did we be taught from the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Ultimate Race 15?

There have been query marks about whether or not Luna Rossa would be capable of be as aggressive after an evening of round the clock surgical procedure to restore yesterday’s structural injury. However the boat regarded for all of the world precisely as she has in each different race.

These two boats have been very intently matched all through the competitors and it was basically one small mistake on the primary beat that misplaced this, with American Magic electing to attempt to tack in entrance of Luna Rossa, after they in all probability ought to have ducked them, tacked on the layline and held starboard benefit going into the highest gate.

On such advantageous margins can America’s Cup racing be gained or misplaced and from 4-0 down it was all the time going to require one thing near perfection for Slingsby and Co. to make it by to the finals.

For his or her half that is the second America’s Cup in a row that the New York Yacht Membership’s American Magic has arrived with an honest wanting boat, however circumstances have seen them ejected within the Semi-Finals.

Luna Rossa continues to appear like a refined outfit (figuratively and actually of their shiny silver AC75), however they’ve present just a few weaknesses right here. Specifically they’ve been poor off the startline all through the Semi-Ultimate and as we speak they misplaced the beginning once more – though arguably they’d have been comfortable to be the primary to the favoured proper of the course.

There may be now precisely 1 weeks gao earlier than the first-to-seven-wins Louis Vuitton Cup Ultimate takes place between INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. Roll on Thursday 26 September.

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