Dean Barker’s nightmare continues
A spritely Luna Rossa sprinted to a 2-0 lead over a sluggish American Magic in the Prada Cup semifinals.
Rudderless Americans on edge of the abyss: Patriot takes a pummelling in 2-0 thrashing and need another miracle to survive
AIt was like watching a Ferrari at Monza. Luna Rossa was noticeably quicker upwind.
merican Magic performed a miracle to be racing in the Prada Cup semifinal — now they need another. The New York-based syndicate looked down and out 13 days ago, after the horrific capsize of Patriot on the Waitemata¯ Harbour.
They have re-emerged, thanks to some remarkable work from their shore crew, but are already on the edge of the abyss.
The Americans weren’t just beaten yesterday, they were thrashed, with comprehensive margins of 2m 43s and 3m 07s in the first two semifinal contests against Luna Rossa.
They are 0-2 down, with the Italians only two wins away from advancing to the challenger final.
No one could blame helmsman Dean Barker for being cautious as he was essentially at the wheel of a new boat, with only two days’ practice.
The Americans struggled to find their groove again yesterday but Luna Rossa looked a different proposition.
No one should get too carried away yet about the Italians, because they had the luxury of sailing their own race, without pressure, but it was still highly impressive.
After looking out of sorts throughout the round robin series, it was like watching a Ferrari at Monza.
They were almost flawless. Luna Rossa were noticeably quicker upwind and surprisingly comfortable in the gusty conditions during the first race. The on-board communication was significantly improved and their manoeuvres seemed smoother, after some hit-or-miss episodes in the round robin.
Their starts were the standout. Twice Jimmy Spithill nailed the prestart manoeuvres, with the move for the second race poetry in motion.
Barker seemed reluctant to engage before the start but that might have been a risk-reward scenario, as they learn what is possible on Patriot 2.0.
But it will need to be a fast lesson, with no margin for error today against a revitalised European team.
The first race was all about the start. No one could blame American Magic for being edgy — with wind gusting near 20 knots — and Luna Rossa exploited that expertly.
After both teams had ventured to the far right corner of the start box, Spithill squeezed American Magic, leaving no room to move.
Luna Rossa flew towards the line, Patriot came off the foils and were already on the back foot.
The Americans trailed by 18s at the first gate, and slowly but steadily lost ground from there, as Luna Rossa put the foot on the throat. Any faint hope for the US syndicate evaporated when Patriot crashed off their foils in a strong gust just after rounding the fifth gate. A four-letter expletive from Barker summed up their feelings, but at least they got straight back on their foils, and they would have been relieved to finish the eight leg contest. Both teams resorted to a larger jib for the second race but American Magic were stuck with the smaller mainsail they had chosen before the first race.
Spithill again had the Midas touch at the start, judging the time on distance perfectly while Patriot trailed in their wake.
The gap was only around 200m for most of the first leg but that was as good as it got for the Americans.
A 17s advantage at the first gate more than doubled by the halfway point (37s), despite a bad splashdown by the Italians at one point.
Then it was deja vu for American Magic as they crashed off their foils at the fifth gate again, destroying any hopes of an unlikely comeback.
They had the same issue rounding the seventh gate, with skipper Terry Hutchinson alluding to difficulties with the repaired rudder, which was savagely bent during the capsize.
All is not lost for the Americans. They had good boat speed for long periods and have at least buried some demons, proving they could get back in the ring.
But can they avoid a knockout blow today?
The day’s first race is scheduled to start at 3.15pm.
Luna Rossa underwent a “small revolution” over the last week, which has put them in a prime position to qualify for the challenger final.
If American Magic’s against-theodds return was the main talking point before yesterday’s Prada Cup semifinal action, all the post-race discussion centred on Luna Rossa’s transformation.
It was only two races but they were expertly navigated from start to finish in conditions that co-helmsman Francesco Bruni described as the toughest of the regatta so far.
They made gains on 14 of the 16 legs, won by significant margins (2m 43s) and 3m 07s) and in the second race were a couple of knots faster upwind and downwind.
American Magic might be wounded but Luna Rossa didn’t give them a single opening.
The Italian boat looked smooth, with more speed and stability.
Their slick crew work was a marked improvement on the hesitant output in the round robin series.
They were also superb in the prestart — against an admitted edgy American Magic — and almost flawless with their decision-making.
“We cannot be happier,” said Bruni.
“We are very happy with the improvements made to the boat and the period between last weekend and [yesterday] has been very important for the team. We improved the boat, we improved the sailing team, the communication . . . it’s a better package and we proved it today.”
The Italians were under considerable pressure last weekend, after a narrow loss to Ineos Team UK ended a disappointing preliminary series and consigned them to this elimination contest with American Magic.
“Nobody wants to lose,” said Bruni. “[But] it’s not about how you lose; it’s about how you react. We knew we had to react, to improve in every department; boat speed, tactical decisions, the sailing team in general.
“I’m very proud because in six days we have made a small revolution and I feel a lot stronger as a team now.”
Jimmy Spithill had a day to remember in the starting duels, leaving Dean Barker in his wake on both occasions as Luna Rossa flew off the line. The second race showed fine judgment — crossing with a second to spare — but demonstrated the confidence on the European boat.
“It was important to pre-plan the day,” said Bruni. “[There is] no time for last minute calls and if you do one you are really doing something that you shouldn’t. [We tried] to keep everybody cool and calm because conditions were very hard. [ Jimmy and I] lead by example; if we start screaming, the boat goes bad.”
Since the first practice racing in December, the Italians have been marked as light air specialists, in anticipation of Auckland’s traditional late summer weather patterns.
But they showed another side yesterday, outperforming Patriot in heavy breezes, which were meant to favour the American boat. But Bruni downplayed talk of a trade-off, explaining Luna Rossa have become more consistent across the scale and they remain confident when the wind drops.
That theory will be tested today, with a forecast of between eight and 10 knots for the expected 3.15pm start.
“When the conditions change, everything changes,” said Bruni. “We know our boat can sail very fast and very well.”
“If it is what we call marginal foiling [today] then it is a really open race. You can be in a lull and the other boat just sails away so we have to be very careful; focus on the day, don’t think about the boat, don’t think about the points — [ just] think race by race.”