The America's Cup: Luna Rossa score outstanding statement win in Naples

In short, Luna Rossa were sublime on the final day of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta, Naples. On a day where the Bay of Naples served up 11-14 knot breezes that oscillated, built, faded and built again, it was the Italian challenger who simply showed no weaknesses, winning the final two fleet races and then totally dominating the Match Race final against Emirates Team New Zealand.

It was a statement win that sent the tens of thousands of fans who lined the Race Village, and the thousands of vessels on the racecourse, into raptures.

Cheers rang out across Naples as Peter Burling and Marco Gradoni, with Maria Giubilei and Gianluigi Ugolini brought their AC40 home having never been headed once at any marker buoy across all three races and delivered a masterclass match-racing performance right when it mattered.

The opening of the two fleet races saw Luna Rossa stretch into an impressive lead of several hundred metres in double-quick time from where they could control everything, but the end of the day was decided early with Emirates Team New Zealand battling hard against La Roche-Posay Racing Team to secure a second and their place in the match-race final.

The French team, who impressed mightily on Saturday with pace and tactical nous, were again on the pace and it was hard work for the Kiwis over all five legs to keep them behind. Eventually on the final windward leg, Emirates Team New Zealand got some tactical leverage and gapped away, but the Luna Rossa team were off in the distance and took the win.

Come the second race, there was little for the Luna Rossa or Emirates Team New Zealand principal teams to gain, but Burling and Gradoni wanted total dominance and lead off the starting line to the right-hand boundary and never looked back. Once again, the Italians built a massive lead, but the real battle behind was for the final podium place and a fascinating tussle for the Women & Youth title.

After Tudor Team Alinghi, the team that sat in third place overnight, faded after the first windward leg, La Roche-Posay Racing Team capitalised, showing boatspeed, power and great communication to keep the Luna Rossa team honest. However, there was little they could do to close the gap and the French and Italians streaked away from the pack with Luna Rossa taking their second win and La Roche-Posay Racing Team whooping across the line as they took third place on the podium.

Back in the fleet though it was nip and tuck between Emirates Team New Zealand Women & Youth and Luna Rossa 2. Jake Pye, skipper of the Kiwi team alongside Erica Dawson on co-helm, kept a tight watching brief on Margherita Porro and Max Antoniazzi in the Italian boat and as the race unfolded, the two were neck and neck down the final leg to the finish with the Kiwis just ahead. No mistakes from Emirates Team New Zealand, they flew across the finish line, gybing right on the line and took the title – a sure-fire marker for next year’s Women’s and Youth America’s Cup competitions.

All eyes were immediately on the final between the two powerhouse competitors who dominated this Preliminary Regatta. Luna Rossa elected to come in from the port (left) side of the line, leaving ETNZ to bear-away on starboard gybe in from the right-hand marker buoy, 10 seconds later. The initial exchanges saw ETNZ dictating the battle, attempting to get on the stern of the Italian boat and the action continued high above the line on the right side of the course. On the lead back into the starting line, ETNZ sat to leeward seeking a hook that looked promising but didn’t stick. The only option for the Kiwis, led by Nathan Outteridge and with Seb Menzies on co-helm was to tack away to the starboard end of the line whilst Luna Rossa crossed at full pace and seized the initiative.

It was a crucial moment of the race as Luna Rossa covered the ETNZ tack out to the right boundary and could then ‘cover’ aggressively – sitting on ETNZ’s wind and forcing them into the vortex zone of ‘dirty air.’ Try as they might, ETNZ couldn’t shake the cover, and it was textbook sailing from Burling and Gradoni who were in no mood to offer up a passing lane. Over the next five legs it was a similar story. The Kiwis threw everything they could, splitting tactics at the gates but finding a dogged Italian team sitting on their wind and covering every manoeuvre.

By the final upwind leg, Luna Rossa was over 200 metres in the lead and sat in complete control. Their boat-handling was on-point, their tactics were supreme and as Marco Gradoni took the wheel for the final bear-away at the top gate, the result was inevitable. Gybe-covering Emirates Team New Zealand down the final leg, Luna Rossa was some 350 metres up and flying. Fans held their breath in the Race Village but really didn’t need to as this outstanding team who put a real stamp of authority on the day, kept it calm, gybed and sailed the perfect layline in pressure to take the winning gun and the overall Preliminary Regatta. Powerful sailing from a team at the very top of their game in the America’s Cup.

With the sun dipping down over the city, the Preliminary Regatta came to a fitting conclusion with the Luna Rossa team treated to almost rock-star status as they made their way to the main stage in the Race Village to collect their trophy in front of the adoring local crowd. It was a fitting end to a memorable regatta that perfectly showcased the city of Naples and its wonderful people, architecture and culture to the broadest international audience.

The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup is a few short months away. Naples is perfection in every sense. It promises to be unforgettable.

Naples. Be there.

Text and images courtesy of The America’s Cup. Read the full report here.