Luna Rossa defeats Desafio Espanol

by Luna Rossa media on 10 May 2007
For the semifinals that will start the next 14th of May, Emirates Team New Zealand have chosen Desafio Espanol as opponents. Team Luna Rossa will therefore face off against BMW Oracle Racing.

Luna Rossa's helmsman James Spithill stated:'Against Desafio I think it’s going to be a good fight, a real battle. The boat are very similar and I am looking forward to it. It’s going to be tough races. I mean you look at the races we have had and they have been extremely close, both races in the round robin so I don’t think it will be any different. The guys are all pumped up for it, we are going to work still hard because there is still a lot of improvement that can be made between now and the start of the Semifinals in the very short time we have, but no we are all looking forward to it and we are ready to go. Until the first race we will work hard but I think we have to balance it because it has been a long series up until now, the guys haven’t had much race and we have to be careful because it could be the full 9 series, that’s what I am expecting and we have to be careful that we are not too overcooked. So we will still hit the priority stuff we have to get done, but still be fresh enough and ready to go.'

The series will be raced with the best of 9 format, meaning that the team which reaches 5 points first wins.

Today was the final race of the eliminatory Round Robins. Luna Rossa faces off against the fourth semifinalist, Desafio Espanol, helmed today by Dane Jasper Radich instead of Pole Jablonsky. Race conditions on the northern course (Romeo) see sunshine and 10 knots of wind on a wonderful sunny day.

After studying his opponent for a couple of minutes James Spithill takes control of the situation and starts tailgating ESP 97 forcing her out of the box and to a late start. Luna Rossa has a 9 second advantage at the gun and immediately sails over to the right hand side of the course allowing a 500 meter lateral separation from the Spanish. At the first cross ITA 94 is ahead by 100 meters. The afterguard on board Luna Rossa plays it safe and keeps Desafio Espanol in check until the end of the race. The deltas: 39 seconds (mark 1), 41 seconds (mark 2), 58 seconds (mark 3) and 114 seconds at the finishing line after the Spanish have offloaded the penalty they incurred at the windward mark for touching the buoy with the sail.

After having won 16 races of the 20 sailed Luna Rossa concludes the eliminatory round robins in third position. Emirates Team New Zealand is first, BMW Oracle second and Desafio Espanol fourth.

Crew
1. Skipper - Francesco de Angelis
2. Helmsman - James Spithill
3. Tactician - Torben Grael
4. Navigator - Michele Ivaldi
5. Afterguard - Ben Durham
6. Traveller - Andrew Horton
7. Runner - Michele Cannoni
8. Main Trimmer - Jonathan McKee
9. Main Grinder - Gilberto Nobili
10. Trimmer - Joe Newton
11. Trimmer - Christian Kamp
12. Grinder - Romolo Ranieri
13. Grinder - Emanuele Marino
14. Pitman - Simone de Mari
15. Mast - Shannon Falcone
16. Mid-Bow - Max Sirena
17. Bow - Alan Smith

Other results
'Louis Vuitton Cup' - Round Robin 2 - Flight 11
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (ITA 99) wins against Victory Challenge (SWE 96)
Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) wins against BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98)
+39 Challenge (ITA 85) wins against United Internet Team Germany (GER 89)
Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) wins against Areva Challenge (FRA 93)
Bye China Team (CHN 95)