ATHENA PATHWAY AND LUNA ROSSA PRADA PIRELLI FACE OFF FOR THE FIRST PUIG WOMEN’S AMERICA’S CUP
The two outstanding teams of the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup, Athena Pathway and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, go head-to-head in a single match-race final for the fabulous trophy and the coveted title.
Having battled through a long and testing day yesterday where just one race concluded the Group A Qualification Series before a four-race Semi-Final series, these two teams showed they could handle the pressure, delivering consistency when it mattered to emerge as the top two contenders.
For Athena Pathway, Hannah Mills OBE leads the team as skipper and is joined on co-helm by Tash Bryant whilst trimmers are Saskia Clark and Hannah Diamond.
For Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Giulia Conti leads the team as skipper and is joined on helm by Margherita Porro whilst trimmers are Maria Giubilei and Giulia Fava.
One match to decide everything. It doesn’t get more pressured than this and with Italy on port entry, the pre-start is set to be electric. The destiny of the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup is in each team’s hands, who wins between these two very equally matched teams is anyone’s guess but history will be made and a first women's champion team crowned. Game on.
LIVE COVERAGE FROM THE RACECOURSE OF THE PUIG WOMEN’S AMERICA’S CUP COMING UP
Race Committee has announced the scheduled start time as 1533.
PUIG WOMEN’S AMERICA’S CUP FINAL MATCH
The pressure race - just one match-race to decide the winner of the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup and it’s going to be a test to see who can keep on the foils as the lower-end of the wind limit is challenged. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (LRPP) and Athena Pathway (AP) are on the course and without delay, the racing gets underway with LRPP coming in on the port entry with the wind around 11 knots and the sea-state getting choppy.
LRPP come into the box very late having tacked on the left boundary, whilst AP comes in fast just a few seconds late and then gybe on LRPP’s line to run and hide to the right boundary. AP gybe around and are LRPP gybe on their bow for the lead back to the line. AP hold the windward station and both boats start even.
Drag race to the left boundary with LRPP holding a small advantage and pointing high. At the tack on the left boundary, LRPP go first and hold the lead as AP tack beneath. AP attempting to close the gauge to leeward but are losing a fraction of pace and as both boats head to the starboard layline, AP are first to tack whilst LRPP carries on a bit further right. At the windward gate, LRPP tack on AP’s bow and both boats bear-away at the starboard marker with a 6 second lead.
AP now in catch-up mode and gybe away first before the left boundary, covered by LRPP but crucially get bow forward. Very even run but LRPP sailing beautifully smooth and holding station to leeward. AP gybe first back to the left boundary, initially ignored by LRPP who sail further right onto the port layline and round up after a final short gybe at the starboard marker with a 6 second lead.
AP go for an immediate tack to put the pressure on and are covered by LRPP tenaciously as both boats head to the right on a drag race on this second upwind (leg 3 of 6). AP tack near the right boundary and again covered by LRPP and after a short while, AP forced to tack back to the right boundary, covered again by LRPP. Very few passing lanes here.
LRPP allow AP to go left in the final quarter as they sail to the starboard layline and bear away at the port marker with the lead at 11 seconds. AP take the starboard marker and LRPP, having seen this, gybe immediately to cover. A small touchdown on LRPP is survived and AP gybe from the left boundary and head right as the lead comes down to less than 100 metres. GBR nail a gybe onto port but LRPP come in on the port layline at the final leeward gate to round 11 seconds up at the starboard marker.
LRPP head to the left of the course on the final upwind whilst AP goes hard right and as the two come back together, LRPP still hold the lead by just over 120 metres. LRPP cover but AP split immediately to get out of phase. LRPP leave AP to go right and sail on before tacking on the port layline on a good shift. One leg left to go.
LRPP bear away at the starboard marker with a lead of 19 seconds as AP rounds the port marker and splits the initial tactics on this final downwind. AP gybes before the boundary and comes back at LRPP - the lead is only 140 metres now as LRPP crosses AP’s bow.
LRPP sailing out to the right of this final run to get onto the starboard layline for the finish and they bring it home with no mistakes to win by 8 seconds.
Wild scenes of celebration onboard LRPP as Giulia Conti, Margherita Porro, Maria Giubilei and Giulia Fava claim the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup. A brilliant example of front-running, LRPP were never headed.
CONGRATULATIONS TO LUNA ROSSA PRADA PIRELLI FOR AN AMAZING VICTORY AND COMMISSERATIONS TO ATHENA PATHWAY FOR A HARD FOUGHT MATCH.
NEXT UP IS THE SEOCND RACE OF THE LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA'S CUP BETWEEN EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND AND INEOS BRITANNIA
FOLLOW THAT ACTION LIVE HERE