Yachting: Red moon's glow fades

By GIAN LUCA PASINI

There will be broken hearts in Italy today.

The people, so frenzied in their support for Luna Rossa, saw the goal so very close and saw Prada fight so hard to get there - but they failed to make it.

In Italy the people are divided over how successful Prada was. On one side, you have those who question why such a strong, fast boat was beaten 5-0.

The others say "Thank you, Prada - we lived a huge passion for five months. It's been great."

Team New Zealand were stronger in their boat and in their men. You only have to study the numbers.

Prada sailed 30 legs in this America's Cup - they won only 12. Upwind, they were faster than the black boat just twice; downwind 10 times.

History and experience counted against Prada winning this time. Prada tried to win the Cup with a new crew, a three-year history and $100 million. But to become a great team you need more time, winning and losing against the best in the world.

New Zealand earned their way - in four campaigns they sailed 110 races, and won more than 75 percent of them.

Patrizio Bertelli has promised he will be back for another shot at the Cup, but who knows if he will return with the same men.

* Gian Luca Pasini is a sports journalist with La Gazetta dello Sport, Italy's largest daily sports newspaper.