PRADA CUP FINAL RACE 3

PRADA Cup Final – Race 3
Start: 1615
Port: GBR
Stbd: ITA
Course: E
Axis: 035
Length: 2.05nm
Current: 0 knots
Wind: 16kts 050 degrees

Winner Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – 0:13

 

Both boats entered the pre-start area at a blistering 46kts ahead of the pre-start duel. The pair remained close as Luna Rossa chased INEOS TEAM UK out towards the right hand extreme of the pre-start area. As the pair came back towards the start INEOS TEAM UK tried to gain an advantage to leeward by getting a ‘hook’, but their gamble failed to deliver. The result was that Luna Rossa were able to control the start.

Both boats needed to tack onto port to cross the startline, but it was Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli that controlled the game up the first upwind leg. Although there were just seconds between the pair, the Italians seemed confident to play their own game even though they needed to cover their opponents.
At the first gate, Luna Rossa rounded 9 seconds ahead.

 

By Gate 2 at the bottom of the first downwind leg the margin was down to 6 seconds. Both went around the right-hand mark, but INEOS TEAM UK turned around and tacked immediately, an impressive move.
Meanwhile, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli headed out towards the right-hand side of the course, apparently happy to allow the British to split from them. Once again, another demonstration of the confidence onboard the Italian boat.

The on-board comms suggested that Bruni and Spithill preferred the right-hand side of the course. To protect it they came back at the British on starboard and tacked in front of them, forcing INEOS TEAM UK to tack back onto starboard and take the left-hand side of the course. Next time they came back together, the same thing happened, classic match racing tactics, the Italians protecting their position and the favoured side of the course.

By Gate 3 at the top of the second beat Luna Rossa had increased their lead to 18secs.
The next leg saw the British haul some distance back, rounding the right hand mark of gate 4 eleven seconds behind. Another tacking duel was in store for the last windward leg and by gate 5 the margin had reduced by one more second to 10secs.

Just one leg left.

 

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli needed to protect, INEOS TEAM UK had to attack but the options for the British were running out. A third of the way down the final leg a split occurred as INEOS TEAM UK gybed away and Luna Rossa didn’t follow. But when they came back together the Italians had gained, the right hand side of the course had paid once again.

A few seconds later and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli crossed the line to take their third win in a row.