By HELEN TUNNAH
Too grief-stricken to sail this week, Paolo Cian has recovered his composure to rejoin his Mascalzone Latino crewmates for what may be their last races on the Hauraki Gulf.
The all-Italian syndicate are expected to race their French neighbours and rivals Le Defi Areva in a sudden-death sail-off
in the Louis Vuitton Cup today, as both teams try to avoid being the first syndicate knocked out of the regatta.
Each team have just one win from racing so far, so their clash in round-robin two will determine which team goes home early.
In the first round, Mascalzone secured the vital point after edging ahead of Le Defi on the final run, in one of the most exciting tussles of the challenger series.
As the French supporters hung their heads, the Mascalzone syndicate were ecstatic. But their joy turned to despair this week, when a twisted spinnaker cost them an upset win over Italian rivals Prada.
Mascalzone's crew were inconsolable. Grinders were left in tears, billionaire skipper Vincenzo Onorato hid his face in his hands and helmsman Cian was distraught.
He sat forlornly on the side of the boat and the next day failed to turn up for work, forcing Mascalzone to sail without him and Onorato to explain how deeply the loss had hurt his team.
"I think it happened not just to Paolo but to all of us," Onorato said.
"We had the opportunity to win a race against Luna Rossa and Francesco [de Angelis] ...
"But then for our big mistake, we lost the race. I would be insincere if I didn't say that that created a kind of breakdown inside us."
That lost point could be even more vital after Le Defi revived their campaign, and spirits, yesterday with a shock win over OneWorld Challenge, after the Seattle team dropped a spinnaker in the water which wrapped itself around the boat's keel and rudder, stopping it dead.
With Le Defi and Mascalzone equal on points, it will mean whoever crosses the line first stays for the quarter-finals.
However, even if Le Defi can pick up a win in their remaining race against Oracle, to be sailed later in the weekend, it will still not be enough to ward off an early trip home if they lose to Mascalzone.
Teams tied on points are split according to who beat whom, and how often. So if the Italians can go 2-0 up over the French, they stay and Le Defi go home.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
By HELEN TUNNAH
Too grief-stricken to sail this week, Paolo Cian has recovered his composure to rejoin his Mascalzone Latino crewmates for what may be their last races on the Hauraki Gulf.
The all-Italian syndicate are expected to race their French neighbours and rivals Le Defi Areva in a sudden-death sail-off
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