Old foes to meet in Challenger finals

Barcelona, Spain (September 19, 2024) – Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, the team representing the Circolo della Vela Sicilia yacht club, secured their place in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, ending the comeback effort by the NYYC American Magic which had won three straight.

Italy will face Challenger of Record, INEOS Britannia, in the challenger best of 13 finals scheduled to start on September 26. These teams similarly faced each other in the 2021 finals for the 36th America’s Cup, with Italy beating the Brits 7-1 to advance.

As much as the sailing team dominated today’s lone race, it was the Italian shore team that were equal heroes after their overnight effort to repair a damaged mainsail traveler track system that had given way in the semi-final race yesterday and gifted the American team a race win to close to 4-3 in this first-to-five series.

American Magic liked their chances today, controlling the start and first cross, but Italy had closed the defitit and when USA tried to tack on them, it was too late and too slow, with Italy going through to leeward to lead at the first weather mark.

In the shifting south-easterly breeze that filled and phased across a relatively flat sea-state, Luna Rossa initially extended but some great calls on the second upwind leg brought American Magic back in contention and just eight seconds adrift at the mid-way point.

Picking a big pressure patch on the second downwind leg allowed the Italians to extend and for American Magic it was roll-the-dice time on the final windward leg. Unfortunately for them, there were no opportunities to make gains and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailed away to record a 61 second delta at the finish to win the semi-final match 5-3.

After the two boats dropped sails, Luna Rossa performed a classy ‘sail-by’, with the Italian crew applauding their American opponent in a sporting gesture very much in the spirit of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.

“It was an incredible effort from the guys on the shore when you look at what happened yesterday, and a lesser team really could’ve crumbled; I’ve seen this,” noted Italian helm Jimmy Spithill. “This is my eighth campaign in a row now and you always face a couple of moments in a campaign where you kind of find out what you’re made of, and I really felt like yesterday was one of those for the entire team.”

For NYYC American Magic, their journey in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup ends today and for the New York Yacht Club, the club that created the event and held the famous ewer for 132 years, the wait goes on for it to return to their West 44th Street clubhouse in Manhattan.

“Stepping ashore it’s brutal, it’s really tough,” admitted USA helm Tom Slingsby. “I mean you’re representing so many people when you’re steering one of these boats, and you’ve got sixty-plus people back at the base who are relying on you and hoping we can get there. It’s just such a wide team that put so much trust in you and it is brutal.”

Port helmsman for NYYC American Magic, Lucas Calabrese, who stepped in for Paul Goodison following injury, spoke about what the campaign meant: “I’m just remembering all the hard work everybody put in over the last two-and-half years, the long nights, the early mornings. I’m super proud of the way we represented our team. We never gave up, which I think is very important. I hope maybe we will have a chance in the future. Hopefully the team principals keep going and I am really thankful to them and to all our leaders that made this campaign happen.”

Viewing details – Race information – Results – Weather forecast

Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, 2021, the AC75 Class Rule and AC Technical Regulations were finalized on March 17, 2022. The entry period was from December 1, 2021 until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup could be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender was to announce the Match Venue on September 17, 2021 but postponed the reveal, finally confirming Barcelona on March 30, 2022. The 37th America’s Cup begins October 12, 2024.

Teams revealed to challenge defender Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
• INEOS Britannia (GBR)
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI)
• Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA)
• NYYC American Magic (USA)
• Orient Express Racing Team (FRA)

2023-24 Preliminary Regattas
September 14-17, 2023 (AC40): Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
November 30-December 2 (AC40): Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August 22-25, 2024 (AC75): Barcelona, Spain

2024 Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series*
August 29-September 9: Double Round Robin
September 14-19: Semi Finals (Best of 9)
September 26-October 7: Finals (Best of 13)

*Team New Zealand competes in the round robin stage only, but the results of their races were not included in the challenger leaderboard.

2024 America’s Cup
October 12-27: 37th Match (Best of 13)

For competition details, click here.

Additionally, 12 teams will compete in the Youth America’s Cup and Women’s America’s Cup.

Noticeboard: https://ac37noticeboard.acofficials.org/
Event details: www.americascup.com/en/home

Source: ACE