The Italian Luna Rossa team is one of the most experienced in this 32nd America’s Cup. The continuation of the Prada Challenge that performed well in the past two Cups in Auckland, Luna Rossa has high goals for this edition of the Cup. A Louis Vuitton Cup winner in its first challenge, and a semi-finalist last time out, being one of the last teams standing would appear to be the only measure of success for Patrizio Bertelli’s team.
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"The top four teams are very similar. I look forward to very tight races next year."
Michele Ivaldi
2006 was a breakout season of sorts for the Italians. For the first time, the Luna Rossa squad led the 2006 Louis Vuitton ACC Championship standings after Acts 10 and 11 in Valencia, on the strength of two second place finishes. A fourth place finish in Louis Vuitton Act 12 proved fatal however, and for the third consecutive season, Luna Rossa finished fourth in the season championship.
However the team could claim match wins over Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand for the first time. And a win over BMW ORACLE Racing showed the Italians could beat each of their top rivals. Furthermore, just one point separated the top four teams, with tie-breaking methods needed to establish the final pecking order. At the end of 2006, it was clear that the top four were very, very close indeed.
“In three years we have grown up a lot,” said strategist Michele Ivaldi. “In 2005 we used the old boat (ITA 74) and were a little bit slower than the other big teams. But we were quite good this year. We closed the gap and felt comfortable. The new boats are very close and the top four teams are very similar. I look forward to very tight races next year.”
ITA 86 after the collision
The racing season did end on a bit of a low note, after a collision with BMW ORACLE Racing in the semi final of Louis Vuitton Act 12 saw Luna Rossa disqualified from the first race, and the Americans awarded another point to win the series. But overall, the team could look at Act 12 as a success, with wins over Alinghi and BMW ORACLE Racing in the round robin and a favourable position on BMW ORACLE Racing at the time of the collision. But more significantly than any points left on the table, the new Italian boat, ITA 86, was damaged. After a few weeks in the shed however, ITA 86 returned to the water and training resumed.
Developing the boats
Luna Rossa fans
When the team resumed work after a break in August, skipper Francesco de Angelis explained the focus of the team for the remainder of the year: "During the August break we worked on both boats and on their components. We also operated on ITA74, our B boat, so as to have an effective testing partner…”
“As of today our goal will be that of verifying what progress has been made using the July tests as a benchmark. We will tap into any opportunities that arise through meeting the other teams at sea. This will allow us to validate our work with an eye on the decisions that need to be made regarding the components of the second boat. A very important development period awaits us…”
Luna Rossa Challenge - Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10
All of that development is taking place in Valencia. Unlike each of their rivals in the ‘big four’, Luna Rossa has elected to keep training from its base in the Port America’s Cup throughout the winter. The Italians see any move away as more disruptive than what it might be worth in better testing weather.
“We’re not going anywhere,” said helmsman James Spithill as winter approached. “We have such a great facility here. We know the other teams are leaving, and maybe they’ve been swayed by the nationalities on their team, but we’re happy to be here in Valencia from now until it’s over.”
James Spithill
Spithill says ITA 86 will be joined by the second new boat for the team (the number hasn’t been confirmed but should be ITA 94 or 98) around the end of the year. With the top teams all potentially racing different boats in 2007, Spithill says it’s difficult to evaluate who has the advantage.
“All of the teams are getting new boats. It’s exciting for us and you’re always a little nervous to see what the others have come up with,” he says. “It’s all very close now. The winter is going to go by pretty quickly and before you know it, racing starts.”
Statistics
The first loss for Luna Rossa Challenge in its new ITA 86 came at the hands of Desafío Español 2007 during Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10. This also marked the first victory for the Spanish over one of the ‘big four’.
The only new generation boat to beat ITA 86 in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10 was BMW ORACLE Racing in USA 87. The Americans won by 1:38 minutes, which was the biggest losing delta for Luna Rossa in 2006.
The maximum winning delta of Luna Rossa Challenge in 2006 was 5:07 minutes over United Internet Team Germany during Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10.
ITA 86 was second in the overall ranking of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 11.
The minimum losing delta was just 11-seconds against Emirates Team New Zealand during Louis Vuitton Act 12.
The minimum winning delta was 8-seconds over BMW ORACLE Racing. Luna Rossa trailed the entire race until the final leg.
Luna Rossa has beaten every team at least once in 2006 and lost races against Alinghi, BMW ORACLE Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand and Desafío Español 2007.
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, after a collision with BMW ORACLE Racing - Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12','image','width=529,height=522');)
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