Today, July 25, 2013, saw the Italian team, Luna Rossa Challenge, gain its fourth point of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series.
34th America's Cup - Louis Vuitton Cup - Race Day 9 - Emirates New Zealand Vs Luna Rossa - Photo credit to ACEA/Photo Gilles Martin-Raget
Luna Rossa was scheduled to race Artemis Racing, but the Swedish team is still working up its new AC72 and not ready to race. Sailing the course unopposed, Luna Rossa invoked its right to have Artemis Racing disqualified 10 minutes after the start.
In its brief stint on the racecourse Luna Rossa posted a top speed of 39.84 knots (45.8 mph). The crew was “disappointed” with its previous race on Sunday against Emirates Team New Zealand, and spent more time working on its crew maneuvers after the race had been terminated.
“Today was really good. I think we sailed well,” said Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena. “We made a few changes in the past few days to the boat and it felt like we were going better upwind.”
34th America's Cup - Louis Vuitton Cup - Race Day 9 - Emirates New Zealand Vs Luna Rossa - Photo credit to ACEA/Photo Gilles Martin-Raget
Sirena also said that the team broke the bottom off of a rudder.
“Straight after our last tack, from starboard to port, it felt like we hit something, but it’s two meters underwater and hard to tell,” said Sirena. “Then, when we jibed from port to starboard, the bottom of the rudder broke off. It’s going to take a week to fix so in the meantime we’ll use the old rudder.”
Although it didn’t race today, Artemis Racing was practicing on the racecourse during the open period prior to racing. The Swedish team has marked the first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals, August 6, as its target date for racing. It says any participation in one of its two remaining round robin races would be an unexpected bonus.
“We’d like to hope August 6 is achievable,” said helmsman Nathan Outteridge. “But we know how much work is ahead of us now and we don’t have a lot of time. Each step will evolve and we’ll try to keep moving as fast as we can.”
34th America's Cup - Artemis Racing "Big Blue", trial day #2 - Photo credit to ACEA/Photo Gilles Martin-Raget
Standings
1. Emirates Team New Zealand 7-0 – 7 points (3 races remaining)
2. Luna Rossa Challenge 4-4 – 4 points (2 races remaining)
3. Artemis Racing 0-7 – 0 points (3 races remaining)
The schedule ahead (all starts scheduled for 12:15 pm PT)
• Saturday, July 27, Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Artemis Racing
• Sunday, July 28, Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Luna Rossa Challenge
• Tuesday, July 30, Artemis Racing vs. Emirates Team New Zealand
• Thursday, August 1, Luna Rossa Challenge vs. Artemis Racing
