Patrizio Bertelli and his allies did not hesitate for long after the Louis Vuitton Cup final. The very next day, the president of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli officially announced that his racing team would remain a shining force in the America's Cup in the future. That was a good thing, because on the same day, the Azzurri women's team demonstrated a lot of passion and even more strength at the historic start of the Women's America's Cup.
Classic top duel in the women's competition too
Former 49erFX world champion, four-time Olympian, successful coach and helmswoman Giulia Conti and her crew got off to a bumpy start to the day with fourth place in the field of six Cup teams. But then they let it rip with three wins in a row. In the top duel with the handling-strong and aggressive Italians, even the confident winners of race one were unable to stop the Italians: Double Olympic champion Hannah Mills and the Athena Pathway Team (29 points) initially had to line up just behind the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (33 points) on Saturday evening.
The battle to win the group was very reminiscent of the recently concluded Louis Vuitton Cup. In third place at the halfway point of the qualifying round were the co-favourites, the Kiwis from Emirates Team New Zealand (18 points) led by Liv MacKay. They were followed after four of eight races by Alinghi Red Bull Racing (15 points), the Orient Express - L'Oréal Racing Women's Team (11 points) and the NYYC American Magic Women's Team (6 points) in last place. On Sunday, Qualification Group B will be challenged for the first time with the women from AC Team Germany.
Giulia Conti said after the eagerly awaited premiere for the Women's America's Cup: "That was fantastic! The conditions were quite complicated at the beginning, with the wind going up and down. Then the pressure built up more and more. But the winds were still shifty with plenty of waves."
We are just so excited that we are making history here with these amazing women from all over the world." Giulia Conti
Commenting on the duel with the British team Athena Pathway, Conti said: "We had the feeling that we had a little more speed downwind, a little less upwind. But it was definitely tough." The Italian seniors can only confirm this after their elimination in the Louis Vuitton Cup final duel with Ineos Britannia. At the start of the Women's America's Cup, the continuation of the challenger classic was on the cards.
38th America's Cup: green light for "Red Moon"
It was a perfect fit that Patrizio officially confirmed the continuation of the racing team in Barcelona on Saturday after the seventh Cup attempt had ended. The indefatigable America's Cup chaser Bertelli was joined by managing vice-president Marco Tronchetti Provera from co-title sponsor Pirelli. And also skipper and team director Max Sirena.
Bertelli assured that "Luna Rossa" will continue its America's Cup campaign under the management of Max Sirena. The passionate record hunter also reaffirmed his confidence in the team he founded in 1997. In a team statement, he emphasised the significant sporting successes of the team, "which has brought Italy from the periphery to the heart of international sailing". Bertelli also emphasised the team's role in promoting new talent.
We have a solid foundation to tackle our next challenge." Patrizio Bertelli
Patrizio Bertelli said: "Over the last three years, we have built a strong team with Max Sirena that is reminiscent of our beginnings in 2000. It is a team characterised by a strong sense of belonging, passion, advanced technology and many young talents - not only sailors, but also technical experts."
Too many mistakes led to the end
The team founder also commented on his team's elimination from the Louis Vuitton Cup: "The truth is that the boat that makes fewer mistakes goes further. We will still have time to analyse what happened. But the problem was certainly not a slow boat. Ours was very fast, in fact I think it's the fastest boat I've ever had in all my challenges. That's how it is in the America's Cup: the level of competition is high. We've had a tough two weeks and we've made mistakes. We're not in the final because we've made more mistakes than others."
We have to recognise that sailing has changed." Patrizio Bertelli
Looking to the America's Cup future and foiling monohull racing yachts, Bertelli noted that "the Cup has evolved into a race course without historical precedent, which is very different from the Newport or Auckland editions". Bertelli called boats such as the AC40 Mini Cupper "an important innovation that attracts younger generations to the sport".
Italy's America's Cup future has already begun
The great Italian behind all of the "Luna Rossa" events said of the modern America's Cup: "It's pointless to compare it with the past, because they are two completely different worlds. In my opinion, there is no going back in this respect." Instead, Patrizio Bertelli and his team already have their sights set on the future.
Patrizio Bertelli also announced that the Silver Arrow would be on the water with the youth crew next week on Wednesday morning "in the interests of continuity". The young stars Marco Gradoni and Ruggero Tita, who were already in action in a pre-regatta for this 37th America's Cup and as helmsmen only just missed out on making the A team in this edition, are to be reckoned with.
Bertelli continued: "The talents will be supported by the team that has participated in the races so far, to give them the opportunity to get on board well and at the same time strengthen the stability and continuity of the project that we started years ago."
"Only one defeat in the success story"
Marco Tronchetti Provera, speaking on behalf of Pirelli, also had strong words to say about the future partnership the day after the retirement: "This is just one defeat in a success story. We will be there. We will evaluate the details and the form, but we will stand by Patrizio Bertelli and 'Luna Rossa'."
A look back at one of the most exciting races at the start of the 1st Puig Women's America's Cup:
