Spithill wins The Heat - La Sfida

by Event/Di Pearson on 12 Sep 2005 Young Australian America’s Cup helmsman, James Spithill, skippering Luna Rossa 1, beat his America’s Cup skipper, Francesco de Angelis on Luna Rossa 2, after a hard-fought best of three final in Trieste, Italy.

Spithill's name has been engraved for the third consecutive time in Hall of Fame of the sixth edition of The Heat - La Sfida – an event for America’s Cup crews.

In the play off for minor placings, Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team finished third, with +39 Challenge fourth.

The first finals match kicked off in 5 knots of breeze and surprisingly, umpires assigned three penalties to the two crews in quick succession. De Angelis and his crew of mostly young Australians recruited from Syd Fischer’s 1999 Young Australia America’s Cup Challenge and mates of Spithill, were firmly in command until a poor spinnaker douse at the end of the second run brought the boat to a standstill.

Spithill seized the opportunity; catching up and then passing his opponents (normally his team mates) to cross the finish line in front.

In the second race, Spithill, who recently turned 26, got control in the pre-start and forced an early penalty on de Angelis. Spithill’s crew had it won from there, with Luna Rossa 1 maintaining a 13 second advantage at every mark rounding, to take the trophy.

‘I am very happy,’ said Spithill, who is still unwell and running a high temperature. ‘We raced well and made fewer mistakes than Francesco. We were also very lucky though. This is a fun and technical race, a match race different from all others; the larger boats allow us to improve our efficiency and group cohesion. We will certainly do our best to be back next year,’ he added.

Spithill is now on his way to Spain to contest the 2005 ISAF Match Racing World Champion in Calpe, Spain from 12-17 September, where he will take on a class field including fellow Australian, Peter Gilmour and defending champion, Ed Baird (USA).

Luna Rossa 2 skipper de Angelis and his crew received the Pasquale Landolfi Trophy at the award ceremony.

This trophy is dedicated to the memory of Pasquale Landolfi, a world re-known blue water yachtsman who passed away recently and is awarded to the helmsman who rounded the first windward mark in first place the most times during the qualifying round robins.


LUNA ROSSA (TEAM 1):

James Spithill

Michele Ivaldi

Tatsu Wakaniga

Jonathan McKee

Andrew Taylor

Simone De Mari

Shannon Falcone

Alan Smith


LUNA ROSSA (TEAM 2):

Francesco de Angelis

Andy Horton

Ben Durham

Joe Newton

Magnus Augustson

Romolo Ranieri

Massimo Gherarducci

Andy Fethers

For further information: www.lasfida.it/