Please select your home edition
Edition
V-DRY-X

America's Cup- The Italian quandary

by Bob Fisher on 11 Jul 2013
Mr Bertelli speaks to the press at the ACWS in Naples Italy SW

Luna Rossa, the Italian challenger from the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, did not race against Emirates Team New Zealand on the opening day of the Louis Vuitton Cup on the express orders of the team’s principal, Patrizio Bertelli.

This, he explained, was no sudden reaction but a carefully calculated matter. 'We wished to press our point,' Signor Bertelli explained, 'we had filed a protest and we did not wish to affect the thinking of the International Jury.'

He went on that the action of the Luna Rossa team had been carefully considered at all levels and was not a sharp reaction to the Race Director’s edict on the Safety Recommendations, it was that the team wanted to hear the Jury’s decision before going ahead on the water. 'We want to be sure that we are 101% right,' said the team’s principal.

'We want to sail,' he said, 'and we want to sail full course races because we believe that is the best practice for the team. Training is essential and racing over the course is the best possible training we can have.' He was echoing the thoughts of Team Coach, Steve Erickson and Skipper, Max Sirena, who both agreed with the decision not to race on Sunday.

The delay, which has seemed interminable, to decide who is right and who has the rights, has been delayed until 1100 PST Thursday.
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignAllen Dynamic 40 FooterHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Related Articles

WASZP Games 2025: Women's Sprint Championship
Tight racing as the female sailors went head-to-head on the SailGP sprint course The start of the WASZP Women's Sprint Championship delivered a spectacular showcase of talent, tactics, and tight racing as female sailors went head-to-head on the SailGP sprint course.
Posted today at 5:22 am
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta day 6
Staying in pressure on day two for the Skiffs, Boards and Multihulls While yesterday's theme was Super Death Reaching and survival, today was a 10...stay in the pressure!
Posted today at 4:55 am
Emirates GBR storm to top of event leaderboard
After Day One of SailGP Portsmouth debut Hometown glory for Dylan Fletcher's Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team as they lead the fleet after a picture perfect opening day of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth.
Posted on 19 Jul
2025 Admiral's Cup RORC Channel Race kicks off
The key today, as with the entire Admiral's Cup, is consistency The RORC Channel Race started in light downwind breeze in the central Solent with a flooding tide. The spinnaker start for the 30 Admiral's Cup boats, in tight formation with the tide, would have had nerves jangling on board.
Posted on 19 Jul
SailGP Portsmouth: Brits nail it on Day 1
Olympic Gold medalist Dylan Fletcher led his team to top the leaderboard after Day 1 The French team broke their wingsail before the start of Race 1 and are likely to be out of the regatta before it starts.
Posted on 19 Jul
Youth and collegiate sailors to have their night
The 20th running of the Ida Lewis Distance Race starts on August 15 The saying goes that "everyone has their day"; however, for youth and collegiate sailors competing in the 20th running of the Ida Lewis Distance Race it's how their overnight goes on Friday, August 15, that will count.
Posted on 19 Jul
Emirates GBR tops Impact League standings
SailGP team wins second focus area - Accelerating Inclusion SailGP has announced the winners of the second Focus Area of its industry-leading Impact League - Emirates GBR SailGP Team - as the home-team and defending Impact League champions get set for an epic weekend of racing in Portsmouth, July 19-20.
Posted on 19 Jul
Gran Canaria, World Wingfoil capital again
Cementing its place on the global stage of nautical sports For the third year in a row, Gran Canaria cements its place on the global stage of nautical sports as it hosts a key event on the Global Wingsports Association (GWA) World Tour: the Gran Canaria GWA Wingfoil World Cup 2025.
Posted on 19 Jul
Peter Burling on his new directions
Peter Burling, three times America's Cup winner, has embarked on his mid-life sailing renaissance. Peter Burling, three times America's Cup winning helmsman, and recently departed Emirates Team NZ has embarked on his mid-life sailing renaissance. This week in Cowes – he is covering two of those events.
Posted on 19 Jul
Admirals' Cup: Old rivalries take centre stage
The keen rivalry between North Sails and Doyles steps up another level in the revived Admirals' Cup “The one thing for sure is the North/Doyle rivalry hasn't calmed down. Many think we've actually thrown some fuel on the fire. There's plenty of rivalry in the cell making brands, that's for sure.”
Posted on 19 Jul