Advantage Luna Rossa?
Lighter winds tipped for tomorrow could give Italian challengers the edge in America’s Cup opener
The challengers may hold the early weather advantage leading in to the America’s Cup starting tomorrow. Luna Rossa will be greatly encouraged by the predictions for the first day of racing.
The contest looks sure to commence on the outer harbour Course A. The general weather predictions — which tend to use the higher readings produced by various models — indicate 15 knots of wind. But more specific readings used by the racing fraternity suggest the winds will be lower than that tomorrow.
The Italians will want a fast start to the best-of-13 series, which involves two races a day. And with unpredictable wind likely tomorrow, conditions look perfect for Jimmy Spithill and Co to launch a tactical blitz aimed at putting Team New Zealand on the back foot.
AUT sailing professor Mark Orams said Luna Rossa will be pleased with the predictions he has seen of winds around 11 to 13 knots.
“These conditions are made for Spithill if he can get in front,” said Orams, the lead America’s Cup analyst for the Herald.
“This wind direction is quite unstable sometimes coming off the land and sometimes along the coast.
“It is quite tricky tactically and also at the crossover for when the boats are fully powered up or looking for more power.
“TNZ will not be too concerned [but] the forecast is not in the slot where they are expected to have a significant boat speed advantage. What the Italians would not want to see is a prediction of 15-18 knots.
“It looks like there are going to be a lot of manoeuvres. Luna Rossa will want to get in front and defend like crazy.”
The defenders have been confined to practise since the Christmas Cup. This is in marked contrast to the challenging Italians, who have honed their teamwork most impressively in races since then.
A fierce tactical battle will play into the Italians’ hands, with TNZ’s Te Rehutai almost certainly the quicker boat in straight line speed. The Italian boat has wider foils more suited to lighter airs.
The America’s Cup variables will include rain, which is predicted this week. There is normally wind in front of the rain and little behind it, meaning it is vital to pick where it will enter the course.
“It is shaping as a very good test of the two boats and crews,” Orams said of the opening races.
Only Course A or E can be used during Covid-19 alert level 2, and the predicted north-north-west winds would probably be too light on Course E.