Auckland
Updated:16/01/2021 10: 41h
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Difficult but revealing day for Challengers competing in the Prada Cup Round Robins due to difficult light wind conditions that frequently forced the AC75s to forego their foils.
A positive day for Luna Rossa’s Challenger of Record, as the Italians took a harrowing victory against American Magic in the first race of the day to place their first point on the board.
The second race of the day, once again it was the British challenger INEOS TEAM UK who again surprised many by winning their third consecutive race in the conditions in which they were expected to fight against the Americans.
It was a tough day for American Magic, with two straight losses that patron Terry Hutchinson described as “character building”.
The pressure is mounting, but the British team’s shift performance is a clear example of how quickly things can change and nothing can be taken for granted.
«Luna Rossa»-«American Magic»
When Luna Rossa entered the pre-start zone on the left side, there were the first signs that this would be a difficult race. Struggling to stay on their foils, the Italian team managed to cross the bow with the right of way to the American Magic. But shortly after this, both boats stopped flying and were very slow.
Within 30 seconds of departure, the Luna Rossa managed to get back on track, but American Magic was still dead in the water.
At first, the Italians crossed the line at high speed on starboard tack at the end of the committee ship’s line, leaving the Americans still struggling for speed as they turned to port.
Finally Dean Barker got under way, but they were already 250 meters behind.
In the rough wind and when they were fully underway, the boat’s speed was around 27-28 knots on the first upwind section. But this rhythm was short-lived. Although Luna Rossa was able to get through the first gate with their foils, they were unable to maintain this pace throughout the section downwind.
As the wind stayed low at around 8 knots, the Luna Rossa had trouble lowering gate 2. In their attempt to create enough boat speed to raise the foils, they were forced to fly through rather than in Stern.
As they continued to fight, luck was about to turn when the American Magic hit the wind and they were able to catch up and regain the massive 700m lead to catch and then overtake the Italians.
But once again, the uneven breeze reversed luck. This time it was Luna Rossa who picked up speed again to get away from American Magic once again. Minutes later they went through gate 2 in the lead.
From here on, American Magic never got close enough to pose a problem for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. As the Italians approached Gate 3, they were far ahead, foiling the mark on the left. But once again, from the on-board communications, it became clear that his main concern now was to stay on his foils to reach the finish line in a race that had been reduced from three laps to two.
The Italians held their ground and managed to cross the finish line within the 45 minute time limit.
Luna Rossa had picked up a heartbreaking victory to put her first point on the board in Round Robin 1.
«Ineos»-«American Magic»
INEOS Team UK continues to dominate in the Challenger Series with a clear victory over American Magic in the first race of the second day of free-for-all matches.
Ben Ainslie’s team had lost all their matches in the December regatta, but they wowed by beating the American Magic and Italian Luna Rossa on Friday.
‘Britannia’ finished four minutes 59 seconds ahead of American Magic’s ‘Patriot’ in difficult conditions due to light winds at Auckland’s Waitemata Harbor on Saturday to score 3-0 in the series.
“We managed to move the ship and get the victory”said Patron Ainslie. “Certainly a big improvement from where we were three weeks ago … We won the race in really difficult conditions.”
Luna Rossa will take on INEOS Team UK in Sunday’s opening race and then face American Magic to conclude the second rounds of all against all. The third race of all against all will begin on January 22.
The winner of the series will earn the right to challenge TNZ at the 36th America’s Cup, which begins on March 6.
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