Louis Vuitton Cup Semifinals Kick Off in Barcelona: Luna Rossa Takes the Lead
On Saturday, the semifinals of the prestigious Louis Vuitton Cup commenced at the racecourse off Barcelona. This sailing competition is critical as it will ultimately determine who will challenge Emirates Team New Zealand in the America's Cup, the world's most significant and oldest sailing contest now in its 37th edition. The previous edition was held in 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand, where the local team clinched victory, securing its place as a finalist set to race from October 12.
The competitor to face Emirates Team New Zealand will be one of the four remaining boats in the competition following the preliminary rounds, commonly referred to as round robins. During this initial phase, all teams compete against each other. Among the contenders is the Italian team Luna Rossa, part of the Prada Pirelli team, which secured a triumph in their first race against the American team NYYC American Magic. Luna Rossa crossed the finish line with a seven-second advantage despite a less-than-ideal start.
Luna Rossa's series against NYYC American Magic will continue for up to nine races until September 19, with the first boat to win five races advancing to the final. The other finalist will emerge from the match-up between Ineos Britannia and the Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing. The winners of the two semifinal bouts will face off in the finals from September 26 to October 5, racing up to 13 times, with the first team to reach seven wins crowned the champion, earning the right to compete in the America's Cup.
Notably, the French team Orient Express Racing Team was eliminated in the round robin stage. Ineos Britannia dominated the standings, giving them the opportunity to select their semifinal opponents. The British team had a dramatic progression, successfully winning a tiebreaker against Luna Rossa – a team that initially seemed superior with a streak of six consecutive wins before facing setbacks. Luna Rossa experienced a disqualification against Alinghi when they failed to start due to a technical issue, marking a critical turning point in their campaign.
Competing against Luna Rossa, NYYC American Magic, established in 2018, hails from the historic New York Yacht Club, which famously won the first 25 editions of the America's Cup from 1851 until their defeat in 1983. Despite having previously lost twice to Luna Rossa during round robins, with gaps of 24 and 22 seconds, they are gearing up for a challenging semifinal. A significant hurdle for American Magic is the absence of their helmsman, British sailor Paul Goodison, who is currently sidelined due to an injury sustained in a cockpit accident.
Following this initial phase, all teams, including Luna Rossa, made slight technical modifications to their flying monohull AC75 boats, further enhancing their performance. These updated vessels represent a next-generation design, originally introduced in Auckland, where they managed speeds surpassing 55 knots (over 100 kilometers per hour). In the last edition, Luna Rossa quickly captured the position among aspiring challengers but ultimately fell to Team New Zealand, finishing the series 7-3 against them.
Traditionally, the defending champion decides the competition's format and venue, usually opting for home turf. However, Emirates Team New Zealand chose Barcelona for this edition, largely influenced by financial and sponsorship considerations.
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