Nothing to be done for Luna Rossa who in the final of the Preliminary Regatta loses the duel with Team New Zealand.
The pre-start penalty and the one in the middle of the race when the overtaking seemed definitive were decisive. In any case, the preparatory tournament of the Italian crew was more than positive, able to close the round robin phase with 4 victories with the real competition, which will officially start on Thursday 29 August. Luna Rossa fights until the end against the favourites from New Zealand but must give up the victory of the Preliminary Regatta.
Immediate penalty for Luna Rossa due to an incorrect maneuver in the pre-start, the Italian crew invades the opponents' maneuvering cone by a few meters. After serving the penalty, Luna Rossa immediately finds itself 200 meters behind and a disadvantage of 22". A gap that however does not demoralize the boys led by Bruni-Spithill who meter after meter try to close the gap reducing the gap to 16'' at half-way point and then to 6'' on the fourth lap.
But just when the overtaking is taking place, another penalty arrives for Luna Rossa for having gotten too close to the opposing boat. From there, there is no more competition: New Zealand wins with a 34'' advantage over Luna Rossa. In the last challenge of the round robin before the final against New Zealand, Luna Rossa had won against Alinghi. In any case, the short contest in preparation for the Louis Vuitton Cup, the "challengers' tournament" that will decide who will face the Defender New Zealand for the conquest of the America's Cup, ends positively.
(Online Union)
