Britannia takes off: wins the day's two races and moves to 6-4 over Luna Rossa
The British are just one point away from winning the Louis Vuitton Cup and going for the America's Cup against New Zealand
2' min read
2' min read
A decidedly negative day in Barcelona waters for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, beaten twice by Ineos Britannia on a day of strong wind and waves. After the sixth day of racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup final they are down by two points 4 to 6 to the British, a situation that is starting to get heavy as Britannia needs only one win to enter the match against Emirates Team New Zealand. A crisis that is not impossible to manage but difficult because when faced with three match points with such a strong opponent you have to have steady nerves and above all nothing more must break on board.
Checco Bruni and James Spithill were unable to control the tactical exuberance and precision of the 'wizard' Baronet Sir Ben Ainslie has nailed them all: starts, turns, choices on the course. In the last few days it has become clear that he is in spectacular form and that he has a reliable boat; at least two points have been won by Luna Rossa in this series.
In the first of the two races Luna Rossa was closer, above all she managed the start better, but in the end she was unable to administer the advantage and her race ended in the passage to the first gate, when Britannia forced her into a manoeuvre that gave her enough of an advantage to lead for the rest of the race. In the second race, on the other hand, the Italian boat got off to a worse start and failed to apply its usual scheme of controlling its opponent to the edge of the course using high mode. And to think that all these manoeuvres Ainslie learned from watching Luna Rossa in the first races and training sessions. Particularly the 'high mode', which sailors actually call the negative lee way: the boat sails upwind supported by the specially adjusted foil and then the tight turn without losing water by leaning.
At Luna Rossa they say 'nothing is lost', Checco as usual thanks 'the fantastic work of the guys'. All true, but the moment is difficult. Luna Rossa in 2000 found itself in a similar situation against Paul Cayard's America One and managed to overturn the result.
Racing resumes on Friday, little wind is expected.
