Luna Rossa Challenge in Finals + de Angelis Audio
by Luna Rossa Challenge on 21 May 2007
Francesco de Angelis acknowledges the crowd after Luna Rossa was the first to make the Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup ACM 2007/Carlo Borlenghi
Luna Rossa and BMW Oracle face off in the sixth match of the semifinals with ITA 94 leading 4-1. On the Romeo course at 3 p.m. there are 8 knots of wind, shifty in direction and the Race Committee decides for a postponement.
Half an hour later the wind picks up as do the waves. Luna Rossa enters from port while helming BMW Oracle is Danish Sten Mohr. The two dial up near the starting line and USA 98 is the first to fall off with Spithill keeping on her tail.
Francesco de Angelis and his afterguard calls the left and Spithill crosses the line on the pin end. BMW Oracle cross on the Committee side and at the first cross are lagging behind by over 100 meters. Luna Rossa chooses to cover her opponent and continues to sail on the puffs and shifts. At mark 1 ITA 94 leads by 32 seconds, at the leeward gate the delta is the same, at mark 3 Luna Rossa has extended her advantage to 35 seconds and cuts the finishing line with a 33 second final delta. Luna Rossa wins the race and the Semifinals series eliminating BMW Oracle and for the second time is in the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals.
Francesco de Angelis and his crew will have to wait to find out who their opponents will be in the Finals. By winning today’s race against Emirates Team New Zealand, Spanish Desafio Espanol now are 2-4, leaving the results wide open.
At the end of the race Spithill said: 'It is bloody fantastic and it’s amazing. The whole team has worked so hard it’s great to win a series and do it in style. We know we could go out there and match those guys and knew we could pull it off. To lead at every single mark is a true sign of strength.'
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 - Magnus Augustson
8. Main Trimmer - Jonathan McKee
9. Main Grinder - Gilberto Nobili
10. Trimmer - Joe Newton
11. Trimmer - Christian Kamp
12. Grinder - Emanuele Marino
13. Grinder - Andrew Taylor
14. Pitman - Simone de Mari
15. Mast - Shannon Falcone
16. Mid-Bow - Max Sirena
17. Bow - Alan Smith
Today’s results
'Louis Vuitton Cup' - Semi finals - Race 6
Desafio Español 2007 (ESP 97) wins against Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92)
Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) wins against BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98)
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