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Lucky charm Renzo Guidi was both elated and heartbroken yesterday as his beloved Luna Rossa scored the first victory in the America's Cup challenger final.
Guidi, the 73-year-old 17th man on the Prada boat, continued the winning streak that has earned him a permanent spot sitting on Luna Rossa's stern.
But he was also having to deal with the death of his 99-year-old mother in Tuscany.
He will not return home for the funeral, staying here to carry on as the crew's good luck charm.
Guidi's good friend Patrizio Bertelli - the head of Prada - arrived back in Auckland from Milan at 6 am yesterday.
He watched the race from a rubber boat, cheering as Prada beat Paul Cayard's AmericaOne by 24s, despite crashing and copping a 270-degree penalty turn.
But last night Bertelli was trying to keep the victory in check.
"It's the first race - we still have four more wins to go," he said.
Luna Rossa sailed back into Waitemata Harbour to a cacophony of superyacht horns and the cheers of 2000 fans lining the edges of the cup village. AmericaOne received a no-less-rapturous reception.
Grief mars sailor's happy day
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