When the first semi-final of the so far disappointing Louis Vuitton Cup kicks off at 10.15pm CEST (1.15pm local time) today, there should be little doubt about the outcome: Luna Rossa should have a relatively easy game with Artemis, as the Italians in their spacey Prada costumes have been sailing their boat since December and therefore have several months of experience in foiling ahead of the Swedes, who were only able to launch and break in their competition boat last week. What's more, this will be Artemis' very first race at the Louis Vuitton Cup after the team did not have an AC72 cat until last week due to the fatal accident with the training boat on 9 May.
The video below of the three training starts between Team New Zealand and Artemis on Sunday, recorded by an independent observer, shows how difficult it will be for the Swedes to stand up to a competent opponent without intensive training. While not everything went perfectly for the New Zealanders, they were in a completely different league in terms of speed, boat handling and manoeuvre timing to the brave boys from Artemis, who have to work out these tricks and adjustments virtually overnight.
District league versus national league: Artemis and Team New Zealand
The Kiwis foiled earlier and longer and also stayed "on top" in the gybes, while it all still looked very awkward and improvised on the blue boat. One can only hope that the difference in class to Luna Rossa will not be quite so drastic, especially as the Italians, who will enter the starting box with starboard sheets in the first race, will have to fall back on the old wing because the newer one was damaged in training.
But as Mick Cookson, the New Zealanders' boat builder, so aptly put it: "The Cup is a sailing regatta. And a lot can happen."
The semi-final is a best-of-seven series, which means that the team with the first four wins advances.
Live broadcast on the America's Cup YouTube channel (where permitted). Otherwise on the America's Cup App or via Virtual Eye.
