This time de Angelis is supported by the highly rated James Spithill, a young, aggressive shark on the start line. Spithill has already led two America's Cup teams on the water, and is strong addition to the team.
Although Luna Rossa didn't make its challenge official until August, 2004, it was the first team to set up a base in Valencia, and trained there for over three months in the spring and early summer of 2004. Luna Rossa didn't compete in Act 1, but made a strong second place debut in Louis Vuitton Act 2 and finished in fourth position in Act 3 in Valencia. Luna Rossa was fourth in the season championship.
The team couldn't beat any of the top teams in the match races of Act 4 in June, dropping races to Alinghi, BMW ORACLE Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand, and finishing in fourth place. But the Italians rebounded strongly, winning the fleet races of Act 5, a bit of a surprise considering it struggled in the fleet contests at times in 2004.
Luna Rossa followed the same pattern in the match races in Malmö, concluding the event in fourth place again. The Italians were able to claim third position in the fleet racing regatta. Luna Rossa had its best match racing regatta in Trapani - a third - but its worst finish in the fleet races, in sixth. Luna Rossa closed the 2005 the season fourth on the season championship and third among challengers on the Louis Vuitton Ranking.
The Italians opened the season well finishing in second spot in both Louis Vuitton Act 10 and 11. Slipping to fourth in Act 12 meant they would lose the tie-break to BMW ORACLE to sit fourth on the 2006 Louis Vuitton ACC season championship. Luna Rossa remains third on the Louis Vuitton Ranking for challengers, five points back of the second place Americans.
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