Another day to forget for Luna Rossa. After being disqualified against Alinghi Red Bull, with the boat failing to show up for the pre-start due to a technical issue, the Italian team also lost the playoff against Ineos Britannia, compromising their chance of taking first place in the Round Robin.
This marks the second defeat in three days: the British challenger led the race from the start, choosing the right side of the course, which proved to be the best. At the first mark, they were already 18 seconds ahead, a gap that continued to grow steadily until the finish line. Ineos thus takes first place and wins the Round Robin, while Luna Rossa remains in second. The advantage for the British team is that they can choose their opponent in the semifinals: the challenger not picked by the British will face Prada Pirelli.
The semifinals will start on Saturday, September 14, with a likely Luna Rossa-American Magic matchup (third in the Round Robin) for a spot in the grand final. It seems unlikely that the other Italian boat, Prada Pirelli, will be chosen by Ineos. The British team's choice could instead fall on Alinghi Red Bull (fourth in the Round Robin).
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Back to Luna Rossa, reliability is also a concern: in the Round Robin, the Italian boat failed to show up on time due to a problem with the foil system, when the wings suddenly stopped working. The semifinals will be held in a best-of-nine series, with the first to win five races advancing to the final. The excitement among fans is growing for the final stages of the America's Cup. Luna Rossa aims to regain its place as a leading contender.
