America’s Cup: Luna Rossa loses both races, New Zealand is 5-3

Now it is much more difficult. On another emotional day, but poor in wind, Team New Zealand lost two starts, but has two points to take it 5-3 in the series. The second race was sensational, when Luna Rossa found herself with an absurd advantage and fell into the water that could no longer take off. The great advantage accumulated by the Italians is useless. When Luna Rossa flies again, it is too late. So tomorrow for the New Zealand team could be the day of consecration and the second winning defense. The Kiwis are just two wins away from the win.

First regatta

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There are more than 12 knots on the course and regattas 7 and 8 are scheduled for the first race on day 5. Luna Rossa enters from the left and tries to conquer a dominant position. Both boats are ahead of the time trial on the line. Luna Rossa descends from the starting box and manages to get to the right of the New Zealand boat. The boats cross the line almost in unison but for Luna Rossa there is a dominant position, Peter Burling calls for a penalty for the Italian boat, but without the possibility of being heard by the referees. Spithill takes the lead and leaves the kiwis behind, which under these conditions have a speed higher than that of the Italian boat. On both sides, Luna Rossa defends the advantage, but in the middle of the second windward (can I make a jump?) The New Zealanders manage to shorten distances and take command of operations. At 10 “at door number 2, at the next door they advance at 19”. A substantial gain, although it is clear to all that in these conditions the New Zealand ship is faster. From that moment on it is a New Zealand monologue that gets ahead in the series by closing 58 seconds ahead.

Second test

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Luna Rossa does not lose concentration and thinks about the second race as the wind begins to abate on the circuit. Spithill also wins second by entering the racing circuit from the right. The two ships cross the line almost at the same moment, but the New Zealand ship is in the ruin of the Italian. Burling is forced to veer immediately and Luna Rossa stretches out. The boats are on opposite sides of the race course: but the Luna Rossa at the first intersection still has her bow facing New Zealand’s. At the first gate Luna Rossa has an advantage of 16 ”, but in the middle of the first stern, after a gybe, Te Rehutai does not get up from the foil and for endless seconds looks like the albatross on the ground. He staggers and cannot start again when Luna Rossa flies to the next buoy. The advantage is up to 4 minutes. But at the end of the side is a Red that ends up in the water and can no longer take off. Kiwis are coming. The fall of the wind causes the route to shorten, but Luna Rossa does not take off, while the kiwis arrive. Penalty for the Italians as Team New Zealand flies past Luna Rossa who floats unable to take off. When he resumes, it is too late and the New Zealand team is still celebrating.