Americas Cup 36th, Day 6: Master Class… by Luna Rossa
Photos by Borlenghi Studio / AC Media – What a great race yesterday, 14 knots of wind it was a clear scenario for Team New Zealand to wipe out the Italian boat from the start. But it wasn’t the case. A good start from both teams with Luna Rossa in commanding position. From there on it was a Match Race & Sailing Master Class by then entire Prada crew.
Designers and shore team have delivered a good consistent AC75 to their crew Team, it performs in light winds and in the breeze is fast too, but Team New Zealand’s is clear a faster boat.
With that real handicap the Prada crew has to deliver only perfection, in handling, tactics and trimming speed. And that is what these Titans of sailors did.
Going back to the early December regatta series we were all pointing out the lack of coordination the Italians had, specially Bruni and Spithill interaction, that aspect was fully polished already for the Prada Cup Finals and it continued to be refined in this Americas Cup races.
When you have a slower boat the only asset remaining is your talent, Spithill, Bruni Sibello and crew showed one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen. Taking in consideration who were racing against, the mighty Team New Zealand led by legend Glenn Ashby and soon to be Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, along the rest of the team , Design and shore crew.
Today discussing with sailing friends in those chat whatsapp group they were telling on the above: that well Team New Zealand was a better team altogether. I told them precisely that was the point on the performance level Luna Rossa entire Team has shown in this Final and specially in yesterday’s race.
The point being to match such a talented opponent with that rocket AC75 you need to push your own abilities to the limit and that what Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli delivered. Along the way they gave themselves a chance to win this Cup, score today could have been easily a 6-3 for Prada, no question about it.
Considering the level of the Kiwi team and the special admiration we all have for them (for me Ashby, Blair and Tuke will become the greatest AC Team aver) , today if I was in position to select a crew to represent a new Cup project, right now I would have gone for the sailors onboard Luna Rossa after the awesome display in race 9.
Yes, they lost yesterday, and also lost a race leading by 2000mts on the clumsy weather conds for the A75 inherited light wind poor perf, nevertheless they deserved full credit and this Luna Rossa Team (Sailors, Design and Shore) can return home head high and pretty proud of what they achieved.
Still not over yet, though 1 more race for the Kiwis to retain the Cup.
Current score is 6-3 For Team New Zealand.
Read official report at https://www.americascup.com/en/news
