Luna Rossa always led against American Magic yesterday. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Luna Rossa always led against American Magic yesterday. Photo / Brett Phibbs
All you need to know ahead of day two of the Prada Cup semifinals.
There could be a delayed start to Prada Cup semifinal racing today, with light winds expected.
Winds of between 7-10 knots are expected for the start of the first race between Luna Rossa and American Magic at 3.15pm, with the wind having to be above 6.5 knots – measured between nine and four minutes from the start - for racing to get under way.
Racing is set for Course A, and with breeze expected to die around 5pm, there could be a short window in which to allocate the two scheduled races – with 6pm the latest the races can begin.
The time limit for each race is 45 minutes, and the first leg must be completed within 12 minutes. The course can be shortened to four legs if required.
Sunday's forecast looks less promising, meaning Luna Rossa – who are two wins away from progressing to the Prada Cup final - could have their potential progression delayed if races aren't able to be completed today, even if American Magic don't pick up a win.
Two races are scheduled for today and Sunday, with a potential seventh and final race set for Tuesday if required. The first team to four wins advances to the Prada Cup final to take on Ineos Team UK.
Ineos and America's Cup defender Team New Zealand are allowed to practice on the course up to 25 minutes before the start.
Win the start, sail a clean race and take the win.
It might not be as easy as it sounds, but that was how things played out on the opening day of the Prada Cup semifinals.
Getting the better of the start in both races on Friday, Luna Rossa took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series against American Magic in convincing fashion.
In his live blog of the races for the Herald, AUT's sailing expert Mark Orams said Luna Rossa co-helmsman Jimmy Spithill made all the difference in the Americans' first competitive racing since sustaining serious damage to Patriot following their dramatic capsize two weeks ago.
"It was always a risk with so many repairs and replacements that the boat would go into the racing today not fully cocked, and without the confidence of the crew," Orams said.
"So while people might criticise their poor starts, right from entry they did not want to engage with Luna Rossa. they did all they could to stay away from them, and that just saw Jimmy Spithill's eyes light up.
"He just crucified them in those starts."
Luna Rossa always led against American Magic yesterday. Photo / Brett Phibbs
The races followed an eerily similar script; Luna Rossa got the better of the start, held or slightly increased their lead through the first five gates, before a slower leg on the fifth from American Magic ended with a splashdown coming around the gate, essentially taking them out of the race.
The turn around the right-hand marker at the end of the upwind leg was a problem for American Magic in both races – with a costly splashdown in the first race followed by two more in the same spot in the second race.
In race one, Luna Rossa won by 2:43, with a 3:07 win in the second race.
While American Magic looked good at times and had plenty of speed, Luna Rossa put pressure on the Americans from the start and showed their intentions with two well-sailed races in high winds.
While the wind speed dropped from about 19 knots to 15 knots between the two races, both teams consistently sailed above 40 knots, while both surpassed 49 knots in the opening race.
With a two-race lead, Luna Rossa are firmly in the driver's seat ahead of the two races on Saturday, with conditions expected to be light and variable over the weekend.
American Magic in action in race one. Photo / Brett Phibbs
According to Orams, conditions on Saturday could determine if the Americans have any chance of a comeback.
"New conditions - the last big hope for American Magic. A change of fortune maybe," he said.
"I think that Dean Barker has lost confidence in this boat, and I think now the brave face Terry Hutchinson is putting on is just that. Deep down, they know that their chances of staying alive in this regatta are slim.
"Patriot has control problems in these conditions. If Barker cannot sail the boat aggressively because he is worried about the stability of flight, he cannot sail how he wants to."
Schedule
There are two races scheduled today, with the first to get under way at 3.15pm - weather permitting. The semifinal could be over by tonight - if Luna Rossa win both races, they will take an unassailable 4-0 lead and advance to take on Ineos Team UK in the Prada Cup final. If American Magic pick up a win, there will be racing continuing on Sunday. The first team to four wins makes the final.
The Herald will have live updates on nzherald.co.nz/sport while you can listen to live commentary on Gold AM and iHeartRadio.
America's Cup coverage is free-to-air on TVNZ. You can also stream the action live or on-demand on TVNZ.co.nz or on the America's Cup YouTube channel.
If you're in Auckland, you can also head down to the America's Cup Race Village at the Viaduct Marina, where there will be a stage and big screens to watch the action. The village operates from 10am to 8pm on race days and can be accessed through the main entrance at the beginning of Hobson Wharf.
