Italian Job Done - Americas Cup Preliminary #2 - Day 3

Who Rules Naples? The final day of the AC Preliminary Regatta in Naples delivered the showdown the home crowd had been hoping for. After a shifting south-westerly breeze delayed the start, Luna Rossa came out firing. A superb pin-end start set up victory in Race 7, before another commanding performance in Race 8 confirmed what had been apparent throughout the regatta: the Italians had serious pace. Then came the final. Luna Rossa versus Emirates Team New Zealand — a match-up carrying plenty of history and featuring former teammates going head-to-head once again. The Kiwis controlled the approach to the start, but Luna Rossa hit the line better and never looked back. They stretched their advantage around the course, eventually leading by more than 300 metres as the Naples crowd celebrated a memorable home victory. Behind the leading pair, the French continued to impress, overcoming two retirements during the regatta to finish third overall. Naples has given us our first clues about the new America’s Cup pecking order. Luna Rossa looked fast, polished and confident. The Kiwis remain firmly in the picture. The French have shown they are a team to watch. But the next stage raises the stakes again, as the teams move into their newly reconfigured AC75s. CHAPTERS 00:00 Race Day 3 – The Decider 00:30 A Change in the Weather 01:01 Race 7 – Luna Rossa vs the Kiwis 02:37 Race 8 – One Last Fleet Battle 03:35 The French Fight Back 04:55 GB1 – A Game of Inches 06:37 The Final – Luna Rossa vs ETNZ 08:20 Kiwis React to the Final 09:57 From AC40s to AC75s 11:17 What We Learned in Naples 12:13 What Comes Next Facebook - @planetsail.org Website - www.planetsail.co.uk Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sheahan Instagram - matthewsheahan