Youth America's Cup: Day 7 - Italy top Semi-Finalist, but second Final spot goes to the wire
by America's Cup/Sail-World 24 Sep 2024 09:17 PDT
24 September 2024
Luna Rossa - AC40 - UniCredit Youth America's Cup, Race Day 7 - September 24, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
The Semi-Finals in the Youth America's Cup, comprising the top three placegetters in Group A and Group B two qualification series, were sailed on Tuesday.
Italy, USA and Great Britain contested the Semi-Final from Group A (the AC Challenger/Defender teams) and three from the Group B teams who are Invited Teams, and not affiliated with the America's Cup teams. The top two teams from today's racing progress to a single Match Race Final to decide the winner and runner-up, on Thursday, between Race 1 and 2 on the first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final series.
As expected the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team skippered by Marco Gradoni (20yrs) one of the youngest, but most experienced skippers in the fleet. Gradoni, a three times World Optimist Champion, helmed the Luna Rossa AC40 in the second Preliminary regatta, along with double Olympic Gold medalist Ruggero Tita, in Jeddah, finishing second overall behind Emirates Team New Zealand.
American Magic Youth Team finished second overall and becomes the other Finalist, after a tussle with Athena Pathways (GBR). They finished 4th and 5th respectively in the final race, and were just 1pt apart at the finish. American Magic Youth will go forward to be the second Finalist.
Livestream of Racing:
Race Summaries:
Race 1: ITA led a group of three off the pin end of the start line - including USA and SWE. ESP and GBR headed on port tack across the back of the fleet and headed for the starboard boundary. At the first cross ITA (port tack, give way boat) was penalised after sailing too close to SWE (Starboard, right of way). GBR was third. ITA delayed taking their penalty for too long, and were penalised a second time. They cleared their penalties after rounding the first mark.
Mark 1: SWE and ESP rounded in joint lead.
Mark 2: SWE rounded at 6m 28sec after the start with SWE 2secs back and ITA third. SWE lost lead but took it back on Leg 3.
Mark 3: SWE rounded at 10m 39secs. ITA was 11 secs back and ESP 13secs behind.
Finish: SWE crossed 13m 15sec after the start. ITA was 12sec behind, GBR(+18sec), ESP(+19sec), USA (+20sec), AUS (+37sec)
Race 2:
Wind claimed to be 17-18kts. Showing 10kts gusting 15kts from 190° on Arts Hotel.
Start: AUS< ESP and SWE penalised for OCS. All penalties were cleared leaving ITA to cross to the the starboard boundary. Wind showing as 17kts. USA too the lead on Leg 1 as they headed to Mark 1. SWE last 303metres behind to clear another Penalty.
Mark 1: USA rounded at 3m 37secs, ITA (+1sec). AUS (+9sec), GBR(+12sec), ESP (+17sec), SWE
Mark 2: USA rounded at 6min 24 secs, ITA (+1sec), AUS (+8sec), GBR (+11sec), ESP (+20sec), (+37sec)
Mark 3: USA rounded at 10min 45secs, ITA (+2sec), GBR (+10sec), ESP (+18sec), AUS (+18sec), SWE (+32sec)
Finish: USA crossed at 13m 19sec, ITA (+3sec), GBR (+10sec), ESP (+27sec), SWE (+33sec), AUS (+40sec)
Race 3:
Mark 1: GBR rounded at 3m 58sec, ITA (0secs), USA (2secs), SWE (9secs), ESP (11secs), AUS (27secs)
Mark 2: ITA rounded at 7m 3secs, GBR (+2secs), USA (+6secs), SWE (+17secs), ESP (+19secs), AUS (+33secs)
Mark 3: ITA rounded at 11m 34secs, GBR (+7sec), USA (+10), SWE (+22), AUS (+33), ESP (+45secs)
Finish: ITA crossed at 14m 30sec, GBR (+5sec), USA (+14sec), SWE (+39sec), AUS (+41sec), ESP (+51sec)
Race 4:
Mark 1: AUS rounded at 3min 46sec, USA (+12secs), ESP (+13secs), GBR (+15secs), ITA (+23secs), SWE (+39secs)
Mark 2: AUS rounded at 6min 49secs, ESP (+16secs), ITA (+19secs), USA (+24secs), GBR (+24secs), SWE (+42secs)
Mark 3: AUS rounded at 11min 26secs, ITA (+ 15secs), ESP (+20secs), USA (+26secs), GBR (+30secs), SWE (+35secs)
Finish: AUS finished at 14m 23secs, ITA (+09secs), ESP (15secs), USA (+20secs), GBR (+37secs), SWE (+44secs)
Points:
1. ITA 31pts
2. USA 20pts
3. GBR 19pts
4. SWE 16pts
5. AUS 14pts
6. ESP 12pts