So the Italians haven't forgotten how to win after all. What is currently difficult for their kickers was easy for the sailors at the America's Cup World Series. Luna Rossa Piranha, the boat skippered by Chris Draper, took the final fleet race and overall victory in rain, light and shifty winds. "A regatta like this and teamwork like this are really fun," commented a beaming Draper, who had to juggle with the modest resources of Team Korea last year, but was able to attract attention even then. Now he works for the fashion millionaires at Prada, who love to win and invest accordingly. "We weren't expecting anything big, but winning the fleet race and coming second in the match race are simply amazing," says Draper.
Oracle Racing Spithill finished second in the race, 1:15 minutes behind, after storming through the field from last place, ahead of Artemis and Team New Zealand. This also meant second place in the regatta for Spithill and colleagues, ahead of the Kiwis, who have now knocked them off the top spot in the overall standings by one point.
Fourth place in Naples went to the once again strong French team from Energy Team with Loïck Peyron and helmsman Yann Guichard, who are also fourth overall, but have to operate with a fraction of the budget of Oracle, New Zealand, Artemis and Prada. The same applies to Team Korea, which once again cut a fine figure with new helmsman Nathan Outteridge and in fifth place left some of the aforementioned heavyweights, such as Artemis and the second boats from Luna Rossa and Oracle Racing, behind. Bringing up the rear, as usual, was China Team, who, even with new sailors, are unable to field a competitive team.
The match race event was won by Artemis Racing, who made short work of Draper and Luna Rossa Piranha in the final because the Italians messed up a tack in the pre-start phase. This meant that the Swedes had a conciliatory finish after having to bury their chances in the fleet race with a capsize in strong winds on the opening day. In the rather foam-braked speed event, Artemis finished second behind Oracle Racing Bundock, two hundredths of a second behind.
The next regatta will take place in Venice from 15 to 20 May.
Fleetracing Naples Final Standings
- Luna Rossa - Piranha (Chris Draper); 92 points
- Oracle Racing - Spithill (James Spithill); 77
- Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker); 60
- Energy Team (Yann Guichard); 54
- Team Korea (Nathan Outteridge); 49
- Luna Rossa - Swordfish (Paul Campbell-James); 41
- Artemis Racing (Terry Hutchinson); 40
- Oracle Racing - Bundock (Darren Bundock); 37
- China Team (Fred Le Peutrec); 17
The results in the Detail
Summary final day
