The first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals made the intentions of the favored teams clear, with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Britannia achieving decisive victories in their respective series against American Magic and Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Both teams won 2-0, but the paths to their victories were quite different.
LVC – Semis – Day 1
Luna Rossa defeats American Magic
Luna Rossa began their series against American Magic with a notable comeback in the first match. Although the Americans took the lead at the starting line, it was in the third leg where the Italians found more pressure and speed. After passing the second gate 20 seconds behind American Magic, they managed to take the lead and finished with a margin of 22 seconds.
In the second race, American Magic repeated with Argentine Lucas Calabrese as co-skipper alongside Tom Slingsby, replacing the injured Paul Goodison. However, Luna Rossa’s control was evident from the start. Despite a favorable start for American Magic, the Italians quickly took command and maintained their lead, closing the series with an 18-second margin.
INEOS Britannia dominates Alinghi Red Bull Racing
In the other semifinal, INEOS Britannia faced Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the only European champion in the history of the America’s Cup. The first race was thrilling, with Alinghi leading as they passed the first buoy. However, from the downwind leg onward, INEOS took absolute control, finishing the race with a lead of 2 minutes and 5 seconds.
In the third and final race of the day, INEOS demonstrated their dominance once again. Initially, American Magic took the lead, but Luna Rossa quickly regained control. With lighter winds, the Italians managed the competition well, and despite a final push from American Magic, they closed the day with another victory.
A day of excitement and great performances
The day was marked by strategic control and the experience of the teams. Luna Rossa and INEOS Britannia have shown that they are ready to advance further in the competition, while American Magic and Alinghi will need to rethink their strategies if they want to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.
With the results of these semifinals, the Louis Vuitton Cup is approaching its decisive phase. We will see if this Sunday American Magic and Alinghi Red Bull Racing can even the score in their matchups and at least earn some points, adding more excitement to these semifinals.
En español | ✍️ Crónica | INEOS Britannia y Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli dan primero
