Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli at the UniCredit Youth America's Cup - Day 1
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 17 Sep 2024 14:12 EST
17-22 September 2024
UniCredit Youth America's Cup, Race Day 1 - Group A - Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Youth Team - 17th September 2024 © Ian Roman / America's Cup
Excellent performance from Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. Thanks to a first and second place finish today, the LRPP Youth team accumulated 17 points in the provisional standings of Group A, reserved for the youth teams of the America’s Cup.
The first day of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup was raced in extreme weather conditions that forced the Race Committee first to delay the start until 5:00 PM due to lack of wind, and then to shorten the course of Race #2 due to strong gusts and big waves. Only two of the four scheduled races took place.
RACE #01
After a delay of over three hours waiting for wind on the racecourse, the regatta finally started in conditions of about 7 knots, which later increased to 13. Luna Rossa crossed the line in perfect time, clear of the other boats and made an excellent start, taking the lead right away on the left side of the course. The big waves and increasing wind made it extremely difficult to keep the AC40s on their foils. Notwithstanding the several sharp crashes, the crew led by Marco Gradoni and "Gigi" Ugolini controlled the boat with flawless maneuvers and rounded the first mark ahead of their opponents with a 28-second lead. From that point on, flying on their foils at over 35 knots, they stayed in the lead for the entire race, crossing the finish line with over 1 minute of advantage in front of the second-placed boat.
Luna Rossa: 1st place (+10 points).
RACE #02
Only four teams lined up at the start of the second race of the day that took place in even stronger wind and waves than the previous one. Luna Rossa started with NZL and USA on the left side of the course, rounding the first mark in second place behind NZL. On the downwind leg, flying at 40 knots, Luna Rossa overtook the kiwi team (who later fell off the foils) and took the lead, rounding gate 2 with a 15-second lead. The second beat came close to being a match race with the American boat that was able to move in front. On the second downwind leg the two boats stayed close, with several lead changes, but keeping the AC40s steady on the waves became increasingly difficult. With gusts of 18 knots and the rising sea state, the committee decided to shorten the course, placing the finish line at the downwind gate. At that point it was impossible for Luna Rossa to close the gap. The Italian boat came in second behind the American Magic team.
Luna Rossa: 2nd place (+ 7 points).
The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli crew featured: Marco Gradoni and Gianluigi Ugolini (helmsmen), Federico Colaninno e Rocco Falcone (trimmer).