LV Pacific Series - RR2- Day 4: Damiani Italia beats Luna Rossa

Valencia Sailing is back in action. Today, Sunday, we followed the Italian duel in the Gold Fleet between Damiani Italia and Luna Rossa. The match of the century between Alinghi and BMW Oracle took place 4 hours later, after a long delay due to gear failure on the Alinghi boat and then lack of wind, but I was unable to watch it since it was the turn of the 2nd umpire tender to blow the whistle and raise the flags on Russell Coutts and Ed Baird.

The prestart was quite equal and both teams wanted the right. Damiani Italia hit the start line to leeward of Luna Rossa and seemed to have a slight edge over Luna Rossa, pushing them to the right on each of the dozen tacks that took place in the first beat. Damiani Italia had an 11-second advantage at the first weather mark and although Luna Rossa stayed behind throughout the first run, Peter Holmberg was able to close in on Francesco Bruni. Both boats rounded the right hand mark at the leeward gate with Damiani Italia still ahead but having seen their advantage slimmed to 8 seconds.

Luna Rossa had the possibility to be back in the game but blew it. Andy Horton opted for the left but the Italian wind-sniffing maestro, Vasco Vascotto, on Damiani Italia chose the right side. A nice right shift powered on his yacht to a comfortable 30-second lead at the second weather mark.

The final blow to Luna Rossa came in the last run when, halfway through, Peter Holmberg steers the yacht to the right-hand side of course. A left shift and an evident drop in pressure on the right side, stalls the Prada-sponsored yacht. Francesco Bruni and Vasco Vascotto look smart and cross the finish line 1 minute 40 seconds ahead.

Prestart of the race between Damiani Italia and Luna Rossa. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Prestart of the race between Damiani Italia and Luna Rossa. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Prestart of the race between Damiani Italia and Luna Rossa. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Start of the race between Damiani Italia and Luna Rossa. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa during one of the many tacks in the first beat of the race. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani Italia puts pressure on Luna Rossa in the first beat. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani Italia took advantage of a left shift and at the approach to the first weather mark they were ahead. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani Italia rounds the first weather mark in the lead. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Andy Horton yells for a penalty on Damiani Italia but the umpires raised the green flag. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Sloppy crew work at the mark rounding onboard the Luna Rossa boat. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Damiani Italia keeps her lead in the first run but Luna Rossa closes in on them. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Both yachts round the right hand buoy at the leeward gate with Damiani Italia holding an 8-second advantage. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

A right shift in the second beat increased Damiani Italia's advantage. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It might not be a Pullitzer prize winning photo but it clearly shows the situation. Damiani Italia triples her advantage at the 2nd weather mark to 30 seconds. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Adding insult to injury, Luna Rossa starts the 2nd run with very light breeze. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The breeze dies down and Luna Rossa falls behind, crossing the finish line 1:40 minutes behind Damiani Italia. Auckland, 8 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing