Italian team Luna Rossa knocks American Magic out of America’s Cup
BARCELONA, Spain — Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli eliminated NYYC American Magic on Thursday and advanced to the Challenger Finals America’s Cup.
Luna Rossa won the series 5-3 after a clear and fast race in which the Italian yacht finished one minute ahead of its American rival.
“We are very happy. This semi-final was a fantastic journey and we are ready to do more,” said the port’s helmsman, Francesco Bruni.
Luna Rossa led the series 4-0 before American Magic made things interesting by scoring three straight wins.
INEOS Britannia awaits the Italian yacht in the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers final which will start on September 26. It will be a rematch of the 2021 match won by Luna Rossa.
The series winner faces the defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup final next month.
Luna Rossa sealed its victory over the Americans a day after giving them their third victory, when some of the Italian yacht’s rigging came loose and left it stranded in the Mediterranean.
But the shore crew repaired the problem on the mainsail during the night.
Luna Rossa took the lead in the deciding race by cutting off their rivals in the first of six legs and never looked back. The Americans were 700 metres behind when the winner crossed the finish line.
“I just want to congratulate American Magic for their hard fight. They are a championship team and they proved it,” said Jimmy Spithill, Luna Rossa’s starboard helmsman. “This victory has to go to the shore team. They worked all night and this morning they looked like a bunch of zombies.”
Luna Rossa swept the Americans 4-0 at the same stage of the 2021 America’s Cup held in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Americans faced adversity this time when the experienced helmsman Paul Goodison was unable to compete in the series after falling on the boat and breaking a few ribs. Lucas Calabrese took his place and performed admirably, according to co-pilot Tom Slingsby, despite his limited hours on the foiling superyacht.
American Magic needed to win both races scheduled for Thursday to advance.
“Congratulations to Luna Rossa, the best team won,” said Slingsby. “We have to keep our heads up, even though I think back on some of the bad decisions made in this race. But considering where we were last week, we’ve made a huge improvement in such a short space of time.”
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