America's Cup: Italy's "silver bullet" flies fast, Alinghi Red Bull Racing without victory
The Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team flexes its muscles off Barcelona: On day three of the challenger round of the 37th America's Cup, the Azzuri picked up two winning points against their strongest opponents. On Saturday evening, Italy's America's Cup chasers took the sole lead in the challenger round of the 37th America's Cup.
"Luna Rossa" keeps "Patriot" at bay
As the only unbeaten team among the five possible challengers for New Zealand's Cup defender, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team won their duels against the other two heavyweights among the challengers: NYYC American Magic and Ineos Britannia. The British and Americans follow each other in the interim standings of the internal challenger classification with two wins each after three of the eight race days of the double round robin round.
In addition to their very fast boat, the Azzurri have shown impeccable sailing performance off Barcelona and so far have not been susceptible to the pitfalls of the light Barcelona summer winds. "Luna Rossa" flew forwards and not off the foils like so many other teams on the third day of racing, which was again characterised by light winds. The match of the day was the first encounter between "Luna Rossa" and "Patriot". The top teams of the pre-regatta fought a thrilling duel with three lead changes after their split-tack start.
They reached the first gate almost simultaneously after a not quite clean first turn by the Italians and a highly competitive first section of the course. Patriots' co-pilots Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison took the lead with their team about halfway through the second leg, only to have it snatched away again on leg three. The thrilling duel demonstrated just how exciting this America's Cup can be when evenly matched opponents meet - and the wind plays its part.
On the foils, get set, go - or not!
However, the third day of the Louis Vuitton Cup also showed how much the excitement of the Cup depends on the possible and successful foiling of the AC75 racers. On several occasions, the top teams took their opponents off the foils with well-placed manoeuvres in the pre-start phases. This resulted in unequal matches, merciless scenes and drops in tension.
Team Alinghi Red Bull Racing was once again one of the victims. In the Swiss duel with "Britannia", the British light wind tactics worked when they jibed directly in front of Alinghi Red Bull Racing on the way back to the line and fired a heavy wing beat full of downwinds in the direction of "BoatOne". The Swiss immediately fell off the foils in the thin winds.
While the Swiss took an agonisingly long time to get back on their feet, "Britannia" started solo and built up a huge lead of over 1000 metres. At the top mark, the two helmsmen Sir Ben Ainslie and Dylan Fletcher-Scott and their six crew members had a lead of two minutes and 10 seconds. Alinghi Red Bull Racing made a strong comeback at the end of the race. But the "Britannia", which fell off the foils briefly after her penultimate gybe, brought her relieved crew across the line victorious after the last-minute wobble.
It's part of the game." Sir Ben Ainslie
Laughing at the finish, Ben Ainslie admitted: "That was a great example of how you can't take a race for granted here. We were well in the lead when the wind became lighter for us on the penultimate gybe. The Swiss then quickly caught up. I was so annoyed at that moment. But what can you do? You have to stay calm. Luckily we got back up quickly and were able to set the last gybe cleanly."
The Swiss are waiting for their first victory
"BoatOne" helmsman Arbaud Psarofaghis later knew what had to change for his team to finally score points: "We have to sail the boat better. We're making it a bit too easy for our opponents." What did he think went wrong at the start? "Quite simply: the boat fell off the foils. We need to make our starts easier. It's not over yet. We'll keep pushing and try to win the next race."
The Orient Express Racing Team is also pursuing this goal. The French team initially had to withdraw from the planned duel with the Kiwis due to technical problems, leaving the course to "Taihoro" for a warm-up solo. This has no effect on the points account for the challenger round, as results from races against the Cup defenders do not count in the battle for a place in the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals.
In their later duel with NYYC American Magic, the "Orient Express" initially sold well. Both boats were too early for the start and sailed past the start line in a desperate endeavour to stay on the foils in the lighter winds. The Americans managed the return, dip start and start faster.
When David came very close to Goliath
However, 48 seconds behind "Patriot" at the first gate, the "Orient Express" once again looked very fast on the course. One section later, the sister ship of New Zealand's "Taihoro" was only 28 seconds behind the Americans after clear gains. At the end of the third leg, they were only 13 seconds behind.
Commentators and spectators held their breath as the "Orient Express approached the turning mark at a promising angle at the end of the fourth section of the course. Would the fast Davids be able to catch the US Goliath after all?
It almost looked like it, but then loud cries of frustration could be heard from on board the "Orient Express" as the blue, white and gold AC75 fell off the foils in this situation - and didn't come up for what felt like an eternity, just drifting through the water without any juice or power. "Patriot" then crossed the finish line with a lead of around 2.8 kilometres (!). "It's tough out here," said winner Tom Slingsby.
Ben Ainslie felt the same way in his team's second duel of the day with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. From the four-time Olympic champion's point of view, it started well when his Brits quickly forced the Italians into the first turn and secured a small advantage. It ended badly when "Britannia" first completed a weak jibe and then fell off the foils in the light winds. The Italians brought the race to a confident finish with "Luna Rossa" 1 minute and 24 seconds ahead. They collected their second victory point of the day and third overall.
The intermediate scores in the challenger round without the New Zealand defenders:
- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA): 3 points
- Ineos Britannia (GBR): 2 points
- NYYC American Magic (USA): 2 points
- Orient Express Racing Team (FRA): 1 point
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI): 0 points
Four Sunday duels before Barcelona
The main round of the Louis Vuitton Cup with a total of 30 matches will continue on Sunday with four more duels: Alinghi Red Bull Racing will face Emirates Team New Zealand. Ineos Britannia will be up against the "Orient Express". In their second match of the day, the Swiss will face front-runners Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. And the Kiwis will play their second match of the day against NYYC American Magic. The first of the five challengers will be eliminated from the battle for the four semi-final places on 8 September.
Louis Vuitton Cup, Day 3, Race 7 - Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. NYYC American Magic
Louis Vuitton Cup, day 3, race 8: France gave up before the start of the race.
Louis Vuitton Cup, Day 3, Race 9 - Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs Ineos Britannia:
Louis Vuitton Cup, Day 3, Race 10 - Orient Express Racing vs. NYYC American Magic:
Louis Vuitton Cup, Day 3, Race 11 - Ineos Britannia vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
