Luna Rossa dominated the opening two days of Prada Cup finals racing. Photo / Michael Craig
Luna Rossa dominated the opening two days of Prada Cup finals racing. Photo / Michael Craig
OPINION:
During the America's Cup campaign, many have thought it would be the fastest boat that won the racing.
With the development of a new, radical class, heavily reliant on technology and that priced smaller potential challengers out of the event, a design edge may have been the difference betweenthe winner and the losers.
However, as Luna Rossa and Ineos Team UK have shown, that isn't the case.
As always in the America's Cup, it's unlikely a syndicate reveals the secret behind its race tool for the sake of competition and gamesmanship. But while the two teams competing in the Prada Cup finals series have points of difference in their boats, the speed on the water is comparable.
Both teams' vessels are performing well on the water and reaching the high speeds hoped for when the class rule was revealed. Instead of a speed race, the first-to-seven series has eased the fears of many who thought the tactical side of the sport would be lost to the technological side.
Because through four races, it has been the sailing that has led to victory, and Luna Rossa are sailing better than Team UK.
Ineos Team UK during their loss in race three against Luna Rossa. Photo / Brett Phibbs
On Sunday, Luna Rossa took a commanding 4-0 lead, following up their impressive start from Saturday. In all four races, the Italian syndicate has gotten the better of the start and used that to their advantage.
The match racing element of the sport was well and truly on display as Luna Rossa manoeuvred their way up and down the course, doing what they could to tack in the face of Team UK, put them in bad air and dominate the favourable side of the race course.
With the boats matched for speed, the British were either looking for a mistake from their opponents or hoping to find a passing lane somewhere, however, conditions didn't cooperate and they were left riding Luna Rossa's coattails to the finish line.
"They're two very even boats, really," Team UK skipper Sir Ben Ainslie said. "Sometimes Luna Rossa gained a bit, sometimes we gained a bit, but I have to say they sailed a really impressive day. They didn't make any mistakes and our starts weren't good enough for a number of different reasons.
"I think the starts are getting closer as the teams are figuring out a few set plays and there's not a lot in it. But that's sport, and we're going to come back fighting hard."
One of the more intriguing elements of the finals series is the routes the two teams took to reach this stage of the event. Team UK were a dominant force in the round robins, going through without a loss on their record. As a result, they progressed straight into the final, with Luna Rossa and American Magic had to face off in a knockout semifinal series.
Jimmy Spithill after Luna Rossa's win in race 4 against Ineos Team UK. Photo / Brett Phibbs
While Luna Rossa were still competing, Team UK were working on improving their boat in the sheds and on the water. Ahead of the finals, there were plenty of questions put to both teams as to what method was more beneficial; but results lean the way of the team that has had more racing.
Regardless, what was already a vital point of the campaign has had more pressure heaped on it for the British, who now need to win seven of the nine remaining races to earn the right to challenge Team New Zealand in the America's Cup match next month.
With several days now until the next race due to the Auckland lockdown, Ainslie was adamant on what needed to happen for his team.
"We have to improve. We have to get better. [Luna Rossa] aren't making any mistakes. In the breeze, we know we've got the boat to win races, but it's down to us to sail better around the course," Ainslie said.
"We know if we can do that, we can win races. That's all we've got to do."
