BIG SEA STATE AGAIN FOR DAY TWO OF THE UNICREDIT YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP

We saw real talent emerge with the likes of Marco Gradoni for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Harry Melges for NYYC American Magic show that they are determined to take their moment in the spotlight. These two are tied with little to choose between them at the top and we wonder how many times we will be saying that in future America’s Cups. Making chase are the emerging talents of Leo Takahashi for Emirates Team New Zealand and Nick Robbins from Athena Pathway, tied on third behind and desperate to make the cut for the top three places who will progress to the semi-final stage of this competition.

Today we have just two races scheduled with the Group A teams of the America’s Cup taking to the water once again. Conditions are very much in focus with the challenging sea state remaining from yesterday’s mistral drainage at a lumpy 0.9 metres. The wave direction however is mirroring the morning ‘Llevant’ breeze from the east so we should see some abatement of the sea state before it is expected to switch round to the south mid-afternoon. Wind strength is forecast in the 6-10 knot bracket, but a lot will depend on the incoming clouds rolling down the Barcelona coastline.

Stay tuned for this one. The AC40s have so far proven, once again, that they are the most exciting of boats, capable of delivering world-class racing. You just do not want to miss this.

CHECK BACK HERE AT 11:00 CET FOR LIVE UPDATES FROM THE UNICREDIT YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP RACECOURSE:

Fleet Race 3:

Disaster for the French and Americans who were unable to race due to technical issues. At the start, in a beautiful 12-15 knots, it’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli that make an expert approach to the line and cross with Emirates Team New Zealand to leeward. Athena Pathway starts on port, looking for wind out right and immediately the Italians cover. Good gains to the British who minimise manoeuvres upwind, going boundary to boundary. Emirates Team New Zealand however call a brilliant starboard layline from the right and come in hot to lead the fleet, crossing the incoming port tackers of GBR and ITA. Luna Rossa get a penalty on the duck to avoid NZL, intersecting GBR’s boundary. ITA wash-off their penalty as GBR falls off the foils momentarily and there’s a lead-change downwind as the Kiwis do the same to allow the Italians to pass.

Luna Rossa double-boards around the leeward mark and is starting to stretch away. Puffy and shifty out here today and the one metre sea-state is challenging. The top three of ITA/NZL/GBR play middle-right up Leg 3 with the Athena Pathway team making a pass on the Kiwis in the final quarter. Downwind on Leg 4, the top three remain unchanged with Luna Rossa really commanding this race. Up the final beat Marco Gradoni and Gianluigi Ugolini sail sensibly, loosely covering the fleet but with a very big lead, and they head to the finish line some 500 metres up the track.

It’s still very much a match race between GBR and NZL but the Athena Pathway team consolidate their second place well. No mistakes from the Italians downwind, despite the wind just dropping off its maximum, and they cross the finish line to record their second victory of the opening Fleet Race Series and confirm their star-billing in the competition. Athena Pathway score a brilliant second with Emirates Team New Zealand in third.  

 Fleet Race 4:   

After considerable effort by the tech team ahead of the start, NYYC American Magic informed the Race Committee that they were unable to start – a real blow for helms Harry Melges and Kyle Navin – and with the French also excluded due to technical issues, four boats start. Luna Rossa make a good start mid-line and roll over Alinghi Red Bull Racing on the drag race to the left boundary. Emirates Team New Zealand have a good start to windward and it looks like being these two who are match-racing for the race win. At the top mark, Luna Rossa bears away with a 60-metre lead and gybe cover the Kiwis downwind – good racing with the Kiwis making inroads – and both boats execute one-board round-ups. A fall off the foils at the start of the second upwind, brings the racing super-tight between the Italians and Kiwis before NZ have a poor tack themselves. However, Athena Pathway make a huge gain, after playing the right boundary initially and clicking into more pressure who manage to cross ahead of the Kiwis and seize second spot.  

At the second windward mark, Luna Rossa have control by over 100 metres from Athena Pathway with Emirates Team New Zealand in third after a poor beat. No mistakes by the Italians down the second run, gaining big time, and their on-water lead is up to 350 metres. The British consolidate second after a splashdown gybe by Emirates Team New Zealand, but the Italians are clear and flying now with just two legs to run. A conservative beat sees them head to the finish down the left side of the course and they bring it home, surviving a scare on the final gybe, to score two wins from two races in an utterly dominant performance. Athena Pathway secure second after a real close final tussle with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, with the Swiss taking five important points for third.