Damiani Italia Challenge finishes fourth overall in Louis Vuitton PS

by Damiani-Italia Challenge Media on 11 Feb 2009
Damiani Italy Challenge produced a very good result in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Especially for a team who came to New Zealand with the declared aim of wanting to experience and that is preparing to return to Italy after having reached a surprising fourth place - third among the challengers.

One of the newest teams in the America's Cup family, Damiani Italia Challenge has finished fourth overall in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Here is their view of their performance in the regatta:

Surprising because unexpected, certainly not because undeserved. Even today, Damiani Italy Challenge, team born from the union of Joe Fly Team Italy by Giovanni Maspero and Dabliù Sail Project by Vasco Vascotto and Andrea Cecchetti, has done things in his way and has done well.

Led by Francesco Bruni and tactical skillness of Muggia’s skipper, the only completely Italian team present in the event, won the right to contest the semfinal against British Team Origin at the end of a match leaded from the start.

In the complicated match against the British, Damiani Italy Challenge was found to divide the starting box with Russell Coutts and BMW Oracle Racing. It just a little hesitation in making up the first beat, but it was really incredible to see the Italian boat close to opponent's without losing anything in terms of speed, and was equally exciting to see Francesco Bruni haul off Coutts-Pepper, in an attempt to free themselves from coverage that marked the final fate of the challenge.

At the risk of repeating ourselves, quite a good result. Damiani Italy Challenge finishes fourth, behind a team that's made the Cup's recent history: the defender Alinghi, Emirates Team New Zealand, qualified for the final right to the next Friday and beaten by Vasco Vascotto’s crerw in first match of the Gold Fleet, and the previously mentioned BMW Oracle Racing.

Vasco Vascotto, skipper and tactician Damiani Italy Challenge: ``I’m smiling because I know how much the result is positive. We have learned more in these two weeks that in twenty years of sailing at high level. I think this is a fantastic day for us: let's go back in Italy with a major experience and with knowledge of the forward most titled team``.

Francesco Bruni, helmsman of Damiani Italy Challenge: ``The budget is more than positive. We sold everything while being here, to celebrate the fourth place. Obviously, at this time the feelings are mixed. It is something that is part of the game because we won the quarter-finals against Team Origin and we were catapulted in a short time in the match with BMW Oracle Racing, the last of our adventure. But I repeat: we are overjoyed. In less than two months we have filled an important gap, proving you can fight on equal terms with the crew who have been together for much longer``.