Video: Highlights from Day 2 of the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena

Highlights from Day 2 of the LVT La Maddalena. La Maddalena, 23 May 2010. Video copyright Louis Vuitton Trophy

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in Valencia (part II)

When one reads a press release from almost any race in any part of the world racing is always "close", "exciting", "breathtaking" or "thrilling" while conditions are always "beautiful", "glorious" or "near perfect" even when there is 5-6 knots of wind.

Today I had the opportunity and pleasure to follow from very close (aboard the umpire tender) the 3rd day of training between Azzurra and Luna Rossa. The two Italian teams are here for the week, preparing for the upcoming Louis Vuitton regatta in La Maddalena, Italy. I have to admit that racing, even if it was only practice, was indeed "exciting" but wind and weather conditions ranged from bad to nearly decent.

The weather really threw everything at the two teams today: Light winds (5-6 knots), sun, clouds, dense fog (or was it the volcanic ash from Iceland) that turned the committee boat invisible from the pin end before finally rewarding them with a nearly decent breeze of about 10 knots at 4pm.

Nevertheless, the two crews had a full day with so many pre-starts that I lost count after the 9th one and three full races. Racing was indeed so close that all 6 upwind legs were endless tacking duel and at no time did any of the teams get ahead by more than a boatlength, at most.

There is no doubt that the LV Trophy in La Maddalena will indeed provide "thrilling" races with BMW Oracle, Origin, Luna Rossa, Azzurra and Emirates Team NZ vying for the top spot.

Our coverage of the Italian training sessions will continue throughout the week.

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Azzurra and Luna Rossa train in view of the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy. Valencia, 21 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa and Azzurra train in Valencia

In a clear sign of Patrizio Bertelli's intentions for the 34th America's, Luna Rossa announced yesterday its participation in the forthcoming LV Trophy in La Maddalena, Italy, as well as the next two LV events in Dubai and Hong Kong, with a renewed crew, skippered and helmed by former Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird. The American sailor will also be joined by 4 of his former teammates from the two-time America's Cup winners, Rodney Arden, Lorenzo Mazza, Claudio Celon and Cicco Rapetti.

Robert Scheidt, helmsman of Luna Rossa's TP52 yacht, will hold the role of strategist aboard the ACC boat while Torben Grael will be calling tactics, just like he did on the same yacht 3 years ago with James Spithill at the helm.

Luna Rossa is currently in Valencia, training together with Azzurra. The two Italian sparing partners started their training on Monday and will continue match racing off the Malvarosa beach until Sunday. We got the usual "reconnaissance" photos of the Luna Rossa yacht on her way out of the canal but stay tuned for a more extensive coverage with photos, videos as well as interviews during the rest of the week.

Luna Rossa trains in view of the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena. Valencia, 20 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa trains in view of the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena. Valencia, 20 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa trains in view of the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena. Valencia, 20 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Team Luna Rossa announces crew for the LV Trophy La Maddalena

[Source: Team Luna Rossa] Team Luna Rossa announces its participation to the races of the Louis Vuitton Trophy WSTA which will take place from May 22nd to June 6th in La Maddalena.

Luna Rossa's afterguard will include helmsman Ed Baird, tactician Torben Grael and strategist Robert Scheidt.

The revised Team will include Luna Rossa's core group of sailors, as follows:

Patrizio Bertelli	Team Principal
Ed Baird	Skipper and helmsman
Torben Grael	Tactician
Robert Scheidt	Strategist
Matteo Plazzi	Navigator
Manuel Modena	Runners
Max Sirena	Runners
Benjamin Durham	Mainsail trimmer
Claudio Celon	Trimmer
Lorenzo Mazza	Trimmer
Romolo Ranieri	Grinder
Emanuele Marino	Grinder
Marco Montis	Grinder
Wade Morgan	Grinder
Rodney Ardern	Jolly / Grinder
Simone de Mari	Pitman
Cicco Rapetti	Mast
Greg Gendell	Bowman / Mid-bowman
Sofuku Kazuhiko	Bowman
Antonio Marrai	Team manager
Max Sirena	Head of the Technical and Sailing Programme

The Team Luna Rossa has also foreseen to participate in the Louis Vuitton Trophy WSTA rounds of Dubai (13th – 28th November) and Hong Kong (9th – 24th of January 2011).

The Team Luna Rossa will fly the Yacht Club Punta Ala burgee.

Luna Rossa and Quantum Racing line up in Valencia

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Training off Valencia in perfect conditions currently are the 2008 Audi MedCup champions Quantum Racing (USA) pairing up with one of this year's hot debutant teams Luna Rossa (ITA) who are due to race at the first regatta of the season, the Portugal Trophy in Cascais (May 11-16).

The Botin Carkeek designed Quantum Racing has had additional modifications done through the off-season months as well as the standard updates which all the TP52 fleet have completed in line with the rule changes for this season.

Luna Rossa was most recently known as Pisco Sour and is a Judel Vrolijk design built in Italy by Carbolab. The Luna Rossa afterguard will include Torben Grael (BRA) as tactician, Robert Scheidt (BRA) as helmsman and recent America's Cup winner Matteo Plazzi (ITA) as navigator.

2010 Audi MedCup Circuit starts in one month

[Source: AUDI MedCup] One month to the start of the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit’s first regatta in Cascais (May 11-16) and preparation activity is evident in several different European sailing centres where TP52 Series and GP42 Series contenders are making sure their programmes are on schedule to hit the first start lines in Cascais, Portugal with the best chance of wining.

Off Valencia the 2008 Audi MedCup champions Quantum Racing (USA) have just started tuning and testing their freshly modified Botin Carkeek design. They have remodelled the deck closer to that of 2009 Circuit winners Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), and also stiffened the hull, strengthening the internal structure to comfortably accept the higher rig loads which prevail among the leading contenders.

“We will also realise a benefit in reduced windage, but the main objective was in stiffening the boat back up again.” Remarks Quantum Racing’s project manager Ed Reynolds (USA), “This is going to be an exciting season. With two or maybe three new teams for sure the level is going to go up. When the newest boats sailed races which were perfect or close to perfect, then we struggled a little at times against them. TeamOrigin’s new boat will be interesting, but we really are pretty optimistic. We know that consistency is the absolute key and at this level that is not always possible. We’ll be shooting for podium finishes.”


Quantum Racing have recruited past Farr 40 world championship winner Adrian Stead (GBR) as tactician who will partner Kevin Hall (USA) who will be the navigator. Quantum Racing plan to train over the coming days off Valencia, along with Cristabella (GBR).

Emirates Team New Zealand have the winning momentum and trialled their modified Botin Carkeek design at home off Auckland. Their changes are only in line with the rule changes for 2010, and some cosmetic differences, but they have worked extensively on their sail package for this season.

“To be honest it is difficult to feel the differences in the boat after the changes because we were just one boat testing, and its only once you get up against other boats then we’ll see how we are.” Remarks Emirates Team New Zealand’s tactician Ray Davies (NZL), “We are confident. You have to be confident in your sailing and believe in yourselves. We have that, then it is down to the process of how we deliver consistent results. So we are focusing on the process and we definitely have the people to win again.”

“It was exciting to see the TeamOrigin boat sailing in Auckland. Juan (Kouyoumdjian) has pushed the boundaries and if they have a speed edge they will be very hard to beat.” Concludes Davies.

TeamOrigin, the emerging British team, have been training on the wet, chilly Solent in big winds recently as they await the arrival of their new boat from New Zealand.


One key change for this season is that teams are forbidden to train off the venue during the week prior to the regatta. So for the Trophy of Portugal, Cascais that means May 3rd is the deadline. That, of course, is not a problem for the local team of Bigamist 7 (POR).

“We have been doing some local races to get focussed and train. I really don’t think there is a local advantage as such, especially because Cascais is such an international venue and so many crews will have sailed here before. But, for sure, there are things we know just by virtue of sailing here all the time.” Says Afonso Domingos (POR), Bigamist’s skipper-helm.

Spanish entry Bribón (ESP) was training off Palma at the end of March after adapting the boat to the new configuration, including the new tiller steering and new helmsman, Gonzalo Araujo (ESP), who is very confident with the results of the work: “The week was very good all round, testing all the modifications made to the boat to fit with the 2010 rule and adjusting everything for a good sailing. We were also able to test the new sails in different wind ranges. In terms of the crew, we’ve changed some key members, and were training maneuvers with the new human core. The schedule for Bribón is for some days of training in Cascais at the end of the month, to get ready for the start of the season.”

Final preparations for the GP42 Series
Teams entered in the GP42 Series are making final preparations for Stage 1 in different ways. Some, like Javier Goizueta (ESP), class President of the GP42’s, are finalising their sponsorship arrangements for their team and boat branding. Goizueta has this year teamed up with Olympic Gold medalist Jose María van der Ploeg (ESP) to race his ’09 Botin & Carkeek design as Madrid – Caser Seguros, with last year’s GP42 Global Champion Paolo Cian (ITA) rumored to be in the driver’s seat for this year’s series.


Others are preparing by getting out on the water, using the Palma Vela regatta later this week in Palma de Mallorca as an opportunity to put their boats and teams through the paces. John Bassadone’s (GBR) Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), an ’07 Botin-Carkeek design built as ex-Turismo Madrid, will be racing a boat new to him and his team and which has had some keel reinforcements done over the winter at Longitud Zero. Project manager Inaki Castañer (ESP) is excited about their first GP42 season.

“We’ve got a great team lined up for this year, and John is very excited about the MedCup,” says Castañer. “Palma Vela will be important for us to learn this boat new to us so we can get to Cascais well-prepared.”

Another team racing in Palma Vela is one who was a veteran to last year’s GP42 Series, but has done some recent modifications to their deck layout and signed on a new sailmaker. Roberto Monti’s (ITA) Felci-designed AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA) is not only re-painted, but has the main trimmer now forward of the helmsman and will be sporting new sails from North Sails Italy.

And while they also have a new team led by rising Italian match racing star Francesco Bruni (ITA), Monti says “After having helmed Airis in the ’09 final stage in Cartagena, as well as at the Global Cup in Lanzarote last year, I feel confident I can take the helm again this year. We feel our biggest competition is Madrid - Caser Seguros, but we’re confident we can win this year.”

Ran 2 overall handicap winner of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race

[Source: Rolex Fastnet Race] This afternoon the Royal Ocean Racing Club, organisers of the biennial British 608-mile classic offshore race, confirmed that Niklas Zennström’s Ran 2 is the overall handicap winner of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race.

Zennström’s Judel-Vrolijk designed 72-footer finished the race in an elapsed time of 63 hours, 1 minute and 33 seconds, which corrected out to 2 hours, 19 minutes ahead of the second-placed Italian America’s Cup team Luna Rossa on board their STP65.

Finish of the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race. Plymouth, 13 August 2009. Video coyright Rolex Fastnet Race

“It is fantastic, we are very excited about it,” commented Zennström. “But it was also a gradual thing, because as we crossed the finish line we knew we had a good result. We had monitored some of the boats behind us, most notably Luna Rossa and Rosebud, which we thought were always going to be the closest competitors to us. And after we came in we spent the morning and actually the whole day yesterday monitoring the updates on the RORC’s OC Tracker and made our own calculations about the likelihoods for the other boats to catch up with us.”

Having failed to complete the last Rolex Fastnet Race, in 2007, the victory for Ran 2 was unfinished business. That race, sailed on board Zennström’s Marten 49, had been the first occasion that the present Ran crew had sailed together. Led by Volvo Ocean Race veteran Tim Powell, the all-star line-up includes seasoned race boat navigator Steve Hayles and America’s Cup sailors such as Adrian Stead and Emirates Team New Zealand’s Andy Hemmings, Richard Bouzaid and Richard Meacham.

Zennström launched his new 72-footer earlier this year, raced it at several events in the Mediterranean, including the Giraglia Rolex Cup, before it was shipped back to the UK, to compete in the Rolex Fastnet Race. “One of the key objectives when we were building Ran 2 was to be able to do offshore races, and the most obvious race we put on the calendar was the Rolex Fastnet Race. So it is great we have done so well in it.” Zennström explains.

This year they have also won the Swedish equivalent of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Gotland Runt, aboard their previous Ran, a modified TP52.

“I think it is a really strong team,” concludes Zennström. “We have been sailing together for two years now and the team is getting stronger and stronger. We have been very thorough in our planning, both in terms of the design of the boat and our race preparations.”

Skipper Tim Powell was equally ecstatic about their Rolex Fastnet Race win: “Obviously it is a big achievement being such a prestigious race and one of the classics.” He adds that they had prepared well, believing some way in advance that a major part of the race would be upwind and, with Ran 2 being very powerful and fast upwind, they stood a reasonable chance. “We were focusing more on our class and the boats around us a lot more. But to have won the thing overall is an awesome achievement.”

Ran 2 did especially well outbound down the English Channel and by the key tidal gate at Start Point, they had pulled out a 10 mile lead over their Mini Maxi rivals. “That first 20 hours up the Channel was all important, tactically and navigationally, and as a crew we sailed very, very well,” says Powell.

Eddie Warden-Owen, CEO of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, says that this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race did favour the larger boats. “If you think that we’ve had spring tides, and really light winds, one of the big gains that the big boats made was on the first night when they came to Portland Bill and they were able to make the tide. You could see on the tracker that those who had managed to make it away from Portland Bill had a huge advantage, whereas the others were stopped and some had to put their anchor down. So the story of the race in many respects ended there, but we didn’t know which big boat was going to win.”

The opportunity for the smaller boats to win fizzled over the last 24 hours when windier conditions that might have provided them with a fast finish to make up for their deficit, caused by missing the tide at Portland Bill on the first night, failed to materialise.

“Ran sailed really well against the opposition and it is a well-deserved victory,” concluded Warden-Owen. “It is a young crew of British guys on the boat, even though it is owned by a Swede and they are very experienced America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race sailors. So, a good effort.”

At the end of this afternoon, 59 boats of 300 starters had reached Plymouth and berthed in Sutton Harbour in the heart of the Devonshire city. The latest arrivals included the first to finish in IRC Class 1, Nicolas Loday and Jean-Claude Nicoleau’s Grand Soleil 43, Codiam.

Luna Rossa holds slim lead after 3rd day of HUBLOT PalmaVela

With one race left for the conclusion of this year's HUBLOT PalmaVela and a slim 2-point lead over 2nd placed Container, Luna Rossa is far from guaranteed winner. The Italians finished 5th in Saturday's coastal race.

Luna Rossa and Team Container racing on hte 3rd day of the 2009 HUBLOT Palmavela. Palma, 18 April 2009. Photo copyright Nico Martinez / HUBLOT Palmavela

Luna Rossa and Team Container racing on the 3rd day of the 2009 HUBLOT Palmavela. Palma, 18 April 2009. Photo copyright Nico Martinez / HUBLOT Palmavela

Luna Rossa and Team Container racing on the 3rd day of the 2009 HUBLOT Palmavela. Palma, 18 April 2009. Photo copyright Nico Martinez / HUBLOT Palmavela

Luna Rossa and Team Container racing on the 3rd day of the 2009 HUBLOT Palmavela. Palma, 18 April 2009. Photo copyright Nico Martinez / HUBLOT Palmavela

Luna Rossa and Team Container racing on the 3rd day of the 2009 HUBLOT Palmavela. Palma, 18 April 2009. Photo copyright Nico Martinez / HUBLOT Palmavela

Luna Rossa and Team Container racing on the 3rd day of the 2009 HUBLOT Palmavela. Palma, 18 April 2009. Photo copyright Nico Martinez / HUBLOT Palmavela

Video highlights from the opening day of the 2009 HUBLOT Palmavela

The second action-packed day of the HUBLOT Palmavela just finished and Luna Rossa extended their lead in the Maxi Mini division, while RAN II made her debut. Our full report and photos will be online in a couple of hours. In the meantime, enjoy some footage from yesterday's action.

Video highlights from the opening day of the HUBLOT Palmavela. Palma, 16 April 2009. Video copyright HUBLOT Palmavela

Luna Rossa's STP65 sets sail for Palma

Luna Rossa's left Valencia on Friday morning at 11am and set sail for Palma, where they are expected to arrive at around 2am on Saturday, if of course they find decent breeze in the 140-mile stretch of the Mediterranean that separates the two cities.

Luna Rossa's STP65 sets sail to Plama. Valencia, 10 April 2009. Photo copyright Bridget Baker

Luna Rossa's STP65 sets sail to Plama. Valencia, 10 April 2009. Photo copyright Bridget Baker

Luna Rossa's STP65 sets sail to Plama. Valencia, 10 April 2009. Photo copyright Bridget Baker

Luna Rossa's STP65 sets sail to Plama. Valencia, 10 April 2009. Photo copyright Bridget Baker

Luna Rossa repairs broken STP65 mast

The Italian team's shore crew has been finally able to successfully repair the damaged mast and it now appears that its STP65 is ready to sail again. The yacht, together with the German STP65 from Team Container, will leave Valencia in order to take part in the opening event of International Maxi Yacht Association next week.

The Luna Rossa and Container STP65 yachts, ready for racing. Valencia, 6 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Telecom Italia exits Luna Rossa; Prada becomes sole shareholder

According to Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor, Italy's main financial news network, Telecom Italia, Italy's major telecommunications group, sold its 49% stake in Luna Rossa Challenge 2007 and Luna Rossa Trademark to Prada, the second shareholder of the Italian America's Cup team. Following the operation, Prada becomes the sole shareholder of the team, holding 100% of its capital.

According to the report, Prada bought the remaining 49% of the team for 13 million euros, resulting in a gross profit of 4 million for the telecom group. The sale agreement was signed in September 2008 and its deadline was the 15th March 2009. The article doesn't specify when the sale took place.

Luna Rossa... the day after

The sky in Valencia might be brighter today but it doesn't seem that the same applies to Luna Rossa, at least from what one can observe in the Italian base. After yesterday's terrible accident, the STP65 yacht is now tucked inside the shed on her cradle while the shore crew has taken one of the team's tenders off the water.

Conditions continue being very rough in Valencia and the strong westerly breeze keeps blowing unabated. We still have no official information on the extent of the mast breakage but it seems it will take some time before the Italian yacht resumes its training. According to the initial schedule, Luna Rossa's STP65 is planned to race in the Hublot Palmavela, from April 15 to 19.

The other STP65 yacht, and Luna Rossa's sparring partner, the German Team Container, trained on Thursday according to schedule, for the 3rd consecutive day.

The Luna Rossa base. The team's STP65 yacht is now tucked inside the shed, following yesterday's serious accident. Valencia, 5 March 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing.

Luna Rossa breaks mast of STP-65 yacht in Valencia

I was asked to hold off on this story but since it has appeared on various sites and forums, I'll add the details I know.

Luna Rossa's first joint training session with the German team Container in Valencia came to an abrupt and unfortunate end on Wednesday afternoon. The two sparring partners faced unusually strong westerly winds, a pattern that prevailed in the last couple of days.

It appears that the forestay strop on the Luna Rossa yacht parted in more than 25 knots of wind and the mast broke. It is still unclear what the extent of the damage is. The German boat didn't suffer any damage.

I was supposed to be on the tender following this maiden joint training session in order to shoot the usual photos and video but a last-minute call from the hospital canceled my expedition. I had to go back to the hospital and pick up my 3-day old baby and his mother and bring them home..... As a result, unfortunately, you won't see any picture of the incident here.

So, some times babies can cost a scoop....

Meanwhile in Valencia... Luna Rossa and Container STP65 ready to start training

While the 19 competitors of the 33rd America's Cup were discussing inside the Alinghi base, the Luna Rossa base was getting busier as the team will start training with their brand new STP65 yacht, together with the German team Container.

According to the information we have, most sailors will arrive in Valencia on Tuesday and the two sparring partners will hit the waters off Malvarosa beach on Wednesday. This first training session will last one week. We will try to have photos of video of the first sail on Wednesday.

Luna Rossa and Container STP65 ready to start sailing. Valencia, 2 March 2009.

LV Pacific Series: BMW Oracle beats Luna Rossa in quartefinal

Dean Barker might think he is the world's best sailor but his mentor Russell Coutts showed today he's not to be dismissed yet. In the second quarterfinal of the day, against Luna Rossa, the 3-times America's Cup winner steered the BMW Oracle to a decisive victory, even after getting a penalty.

Coutts got the upper hand in the prestart and crossed the line 4 seconds ahead of Luna Rossa. BMW Oracle maintained the lead until the 1st weather mark and rounded slightly ahead. It was a close situation in which both yachts got a penalty. Still, a couple of boatlengths ahead, Russell Coutts gybed in front of the Luna Rossa yacht and received a penalty. Even if it appeared to be in a difficult position, Coutts showed his skills later on. Through good boats speed and tactics, BMW Oracle managed to gain that additional meter in every maneuver that would give them breathing space in order to offload the penalty. And so they did.

Taking advantage of a puff of wind in the last run they built the margin required and carried out a perfect penalty turn on the finish line, crossing it a second ahead.

It was an uneventful prestart in the quarterfinal between Luna Rossa and BMW Oracle. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Peter Holmberg steering Luna Rossa during the the first beat. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa approach the first top mark. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Ready for the genoa drop on Luna Rossa. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle gybe in front of Luna Rossa and receive penalty. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle gybe in front of Luna Rossa and receive penalty. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa in the first run. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Spinnaker drop on Luna Rossa. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle starts the 2nd beat in the lead. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle rounds the 2nd top mark in the lead. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle keeps increasing its advantage in the last run. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle make their penalty turn. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle make their penalty turn. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle make their penalty turn. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle wins the race thanks to the perfect penalty turn. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

LV Pacific Series : Luna Rossa eliminates China Team down to the wire

We couldn't have asked for a closer race, especially on a day like Tuesday, marked by rain, mist, unstable and light winds, long delays and finally canceled races. The match between Luna Rossa, skippered by Peter Holmberg, and China Team, helmed by Ian Williams, initially appeared to be a no-brainer but turned out into the closest and most emotional match. Luna Rossa's bow crossed the finish line less than half a meter ahead of China Team's. Valencia Sailing was on the umpire boat, right in the middle of the action.

The committee end of the starting line was strongly favored and both helmsmen fought hard to get it in the prestart. It was Luna Rossa that finally achieved it but had to pay the price of a penalty. Both yachts hit the line on starboard tack but with Luna Rossa having the advantage. The first beat was a long drag race with one tack, dominated by Luna Rossa. The Italians rounded the first weather mark 14 seconds ahead and stayed in the lead throughout the race. As Williams stated, a number of small errors gave Peter Holmberg the possibility to stretch the lead to the 4.5-5 boatlengths, necessary to unload the penalty right at the finish line.

Yet, it wasn't as simple as this. The strong current made things harder for Holmberg, who jokingly stated that he had done a number of penalty turns in his career. Normally, it wouldn't have been a problem and in hindsight they would have gubed and then tacked but finally, they made it even if it was by only half a meter.

Luna Rossa will now have to race against BMW Oracle in the quarterfinals. In the other race of the day Team Origin comfortably beat Pataugas K-Challenge and now moves to the quarterfinals where it will face Damiani Italia. Both races, as well as the semifinals between the winners, were supposed to have taken place on Tuesday, but after a 4-hour long wait, Peter Reggio, PRO of the event, had no option but to send all boats ashore. It was impossible to get a decent and stable breeze in order to fire the starting gun.

Quotes of the race

Ian Williams, helmsman on China Team:"We took a conservative option in the start knowing Luna Rossa was carrying a penalty and this is what you normally do in match racing. In hindsight, the race was lost because of a number of small errors. It was the first time we raced on the Team New Zealand boats and, believe me, they are quite different. At the leeward gate we lost precious time because exactly we didn't handle the boat correctly. It's tough in these sudden-death matches because you don't have the luxury to learn during the race. If you lose you are out.

We are satisfied with our performance in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Our goal was to improve in every race and I think we have achieved it. Don't forget we were the only team to come without any training whatsoever on America's Cup boats and it now appears it was an error. Our aim is to continue and as you know we have challenged for the 33rd America's Cup. Nevertheless, it's a wait-and-see situation and everything depends on the final court decision. Unfortunately, it is already hard in the current economic situation, we have the added uncertainty".

Prestart of the race between Luna Rossa and China Team. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Peter Holmberg positions himself to take the right side, risking a penalty. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa gets a penalty but gains the advantage of holding the right side. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The first beat was a long drag race with only one tack. Unfortunately for Ian Williams he was on the unfavored left side. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Match racing champion Ian Williams steers the boat towards the first weather mark. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa started the first run with a 14-second advantage. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa rounds the leeward gate 19 seconds ahead of China Team. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Crew handling errors at the leeward gate cost China Team more precious meters. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa stretched their lead in the last run. In the other race, Team Origin was comofortably ahead of Pataugas K-Challenge. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It's not the same race but a nice picture though. Ben Ainslie, Bart Simpson, Iain Percy, Mark Sanderson et al were no match for the French. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa are offloading their penalty. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa are offloading their penalty while China Team are pushed by the wind towards the finish line. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It's going to be down to the wire. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

What flag did the committee raise? Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It's all hugs and kisses on the Italian boat as they beat the Chinese by a split second. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing