But then, as Patriot prepared for a tack, buttons were pushed, controls were moved and ... nothing happened.
"Guys, the board won't go down," said Barker.
It eventually did, but that was the end of the contest, as American Magic limped around the course, incurring boundary penalties on several occasions as they struggled with the hydraulics.
The final margin was 3:50, confirming the end of the road for American Magic.
Dean Barker is consoled after losing to Luna Rossa. Photo / Brett Phibbs
It always seemed like an impossible job to restore Patriot – after their dramatic capsize and near sinking less than two weeks ago – but their shore crew, engineers and electricians had performed wonders.
But among the thousands of electrical components in the complex interiors of these AC75s, something malfunctioned on Saturday and that was terminal for their hopes.
A comeback on Saturday was always unlikely, given the obvious gains that Luna Rossa have made since the end of the Prada Cup round robin, but no one wanted to see things finish like this for the Americans.
"If they didn't have bad luck, they would have none at all," lamented former America's Cup helmsman Ken Read on the television coverage.
It was a sad finale for the New York-based syndicate. They had the toughest task of all three challengers, given they were the only 'start-up' team, and the steepest learning curve.
That looked irrelevant in December, when they beat Team New Zealand in one race of the America's Cup World Series and flew around the course, but everything changed with the capsize.
"It's brutal, it's just brutal," admitted an emotional American Magic skipper Terry Hutchinson, just after the race.
Though they weren't really tested, Luna Rossa were again near-flawless on Saturday and will provide formidable opposition for Ineos Team UK in the Prada Cup final, which starts on February 13.
Just like Friday, the first race was decided at the start. Dean Barker tried a different strategy, and looked to have Luna Rossa pinned at one point, but the Italian crew showed their confidence.
They tip-toed along the start line, before crossing just on time. The Americans were level, but soon behind, stuck in dirty air after the first tack near the left-hand boundary.
"We are bleeding slightly here," said flight controller Andrew Campbell, and from there it was a slow death. A 13-second deficit at the first gate had almost tripled by the halfway point.
"Let's keep the foot on the throat here," said Luna Rossa co-helmsman Jimmy Spithill, and they did.
Patriot made ground on each downwind leg – and cut Luna Rossa's advantage to a few hundred metres at one stage – but never looked like getting an opening, despite engineering a split on a couple of occasions.
Luna Rossa were strong upwind, sailing noticeably higher into the breeze, and they finished well ahead.
Dean Barker looks on after defeat in the Prada Cup semifinals. Photo / Dean Purcell
American Magic had held lengthy afterguard planning meetings on board ahead of both races, but it was to no avail, as the Italians bossed both starts, with Hutchinson acknowledging their superiority in that area.
It was hard not to feel sympathy for Barker, who was obviously struggling to control Patriot, as he wrestled with the wheel, like a cowboy breaking in a wild horse.
American Magic's demise will dominate headlines, but the resurgence of Luna Rossa is just as noteworthy.
It bodes well for the Europeans ahead of the challenger final, which should be a much closer contest than the past two days.
Heading into the Cup racing?
• Give yourself plenty of time and think about catching a ferry, train or bus to watch the Cup.
• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It's the best way to ride.
• Don't forget to scan QR codes with the NZ COVID Tracer app when on public transport and entering the America's Cup Village.
