Prada Cup
Final: Auckland, NZ, January 2021

Prada Cup Final Day 1

INEOS Team UK (GBR)
vs.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) Best of 13 Series (First to Seven)
Winner Challenges NZL for the America's Cup

Saturday, Feb 13, Auckland
Race Area: A

Race 1:
Warning Signal 4:12pm, Start 4:15pm
ITA (port entry) vs. GBR (stbd.)

Race 2:
Start approximately 25 minutes after R1
GBR (port) vs. ITA (stbd)

Race Calendar | Event Format

Weather: Wind ESE/ENE becoming NE 8-10 kts by race time. Waves 1-1.5 feet (RepCast, see more at left).

Rules Modifications:
The wind limit for starting a race in the Prada Cup Final and the America's Cup Match has been lowered from 23 kts to 21 kts. Also, as in the Semi-Final, teams will be granted a one-time per series option to delay the start for 15-minutes.

Outlook:
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli looked very strong dispatching USA's American Magic in the Semi-Final. Their two-person helming arrangement and other crew work was very sharp; thier boatspeed and VMG seemed improved even from the Rounds Robin. American Magic was still trying to find their feet after the capsize less than two weeks earlier, and even though USA had been sailing away from the Italians in the last RR meeting, ITA's progress in that two weeks between round was just too much for USA. But now ITA faces Ben Ainslie and INEOS Team UK who in January looked an entirely different boat than the one that struggled in the December regatta. Luna Rossa sailors said they welcomed the chance to race in the Semi-Finals, as a chance to learn and get better through competition. The pre-start moves are particularly likely to be the center of attention now as the teams are figuring what works and what doesn't work with two foilers going 40-something knots as the clock counts down.

INEOS swept Luna Rossa in the Rounds Robin, but ITA made it a battle at times. Max Sirena, Luna Rossa Team Director, admits to having new foils, a modified mast, new sails, and upgraded electronics since they last met. GBR has been hard at work in the shed, too, but at what? Start time is expected at 3:15 this afternoon.

Race 1:
Wind is a bit light, start is pushed back to 4:19. Sea breeze filling in slowly.

ITA makes the port entry. Tacking for the line in light air kills Ineos’s momentum. They drop into the water with almost no headway, and badly positioned above the line. Lull 45 sec before start slows ITA too, but they don’t have to tack and they make a good start nearly on time. Ineos is slow and way back. Crossing the line they drop off foils again while ITA is tacking away up the course. 600M away before GBR gets back on foils. GBR was above the line, though outside it, at the gun, and earned an OCS penalty. Then a boundary penalty. By the time they clear it, ITA is 750m ahead.

Prada Cup Final Day 2

Sunday, Feb 14, Auckland

INEOS Team UK (GBR)
vs.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA)

ITA leads 2-0, Best of 13 Series (First to Seven)
Winner Challenges NZL for the America's Cup

Race Area: E
Off Musick Point, South of Motuihe Island

Race 3:
Warning Signal 4:12pm, Start 4:15pm
ITA (port entry) d. GBR (stbd.)

Race 4:
Start approximately 25 minutes after R3
GBR (port) loses to ITA (stbd)

Weather: Wind NE 15-18 kts, low tide 4:19pm, waves 1-2 feet (RepCast, see more at left). Wind NE 14-19 kts. (Official). Winds NE 16-18 kts (PredictWind)

Matchup:
Forza was the word of the day on Saturday. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailed strong races, the sailors in tune with their boat, showing smooth boathandling and tactics. Ineos Team UK was hamstrung by tacking at the wrong time and place before Race 1's start, and was slow in transitons from diplacement to foling in the light wind. Race 2 saw better tactics from GBR, but Luna Rossa quickly found an advantage on starboard in the first cross, picking the right wind, and sailing a bit faster upwind than INEOS in any case. Downwind INEOS was more competitive, but not enough to offset Luna Rossa, who steadily extended their lead.

Sunday's race is expected to have winds at the higher end of the range, maybe flirting with the wind limits for a start. But if they do race, Luna Rossa has shown they have speed to weather when the breeze is strong.

ITA has been executing their race plan with confidence, willing to use agressive tactics when necessary, but being smart and just going fast is also a winning combination. INEOS might feel the need to do something agressive in the pre-start, which can easily backfire, but more importantly GBR needs to find speed and height upwind, choose the right sails, and not spot their opponent any sort of a lead.

If Luna Rossa keeps adding to their win column, INEOS will finish the day in a pretty deep hole. Or will GBR find a way to even out the series a bit?

Race 3:
6 leg Course. Start ontime.

INEOS chases Luna Rossa toward the line, hoping to get a hook, very aggressive, but they are late for the line and the attempt by GBR to engage ends up leaving them about ten seconds behind LR at the start.

Up the first windward it’s neck and neck, barely 50-70m gap. Luna Rossa gets a better angle into the first gate after GBR tacks away, and rounds :09 ahead.

Downwind, they match gybes, but widely separated, with ITA holding their lead. And to the port layline, LR gybes and heads for the left gate, GBR follows, both turn left and it’s only six seconds delta at the bottom Gate 2.

Upwind they split after the mark, GBR hoping for better wind on the left. INEOS gains slightly, and more after ITA tacks. Coming off the left boundary, ITA has starboard for a cross, and is well ahead. ITA tacks in GBR’s path, also getting the left-hand shift. GBR tacks to port in the middle of the course. Lead goes from 40m to 120m. GBR come back to the left, then tacks to port at the boundary, and ITA does it again, tacking ahead and giving INEOS their dirty air. ITA is protecting the favored right-hand side of the course. GBR hangs in this time, though, not tacking until they get about 2/3 back to the right. Both tack to starboard, heading for the port layline. Lead is about 170m to ITA. INEOS overstands the port layline slightly, gives up ground. Both round to the right, :18 delta at the third gate.

Downwind the lead is up to 290m. ITA gybes early, setting up for a rounding to starboard, which is unexpected considering the other side of the course has been favored. GBR comes in with a better angle, turns left, and cuts the lead down to 70m. Both go upwind to the starboard boundary, tacking with ITA in the lead, the crosses not close yet. ITA is trying to stay in phase with INEOS and keep them back. INEOS is pressing hard. After trading a few tacks, ITA manages to claw out to 120m, tacking a little more smoothly.

 

Though ITA could make it to the port layline, when INEOS tacks back to port, ITA covers, and consolidates their gauge at the starboard layline. ITA heads for the left hand gate. INEOS has to follow. Lead is down to 9 seconds at the last upwind gate. Turning right would have lost ground, but now INEOs is stuck in phase with Luna Rossa, and the finish line will come up quickly. ITA still trying to protect the left downwind, but stay in phase with GBR. ITA extends slightly, up to 245m. One more gybe for LR.

Luna Rossa wins Race 3 by a margin of 0:13s!

ITA takes a 3-0 series lead.

Race 4:
6 leg Course. Wind is off slightly. Inconsistent across the course. Both have changed jibs. Luna Rossa enters right on time. GBR chases ITA to the far right side of the box.

ITA returns off the boundary, coming back to the line with a lot of time left. With Luna Rossa to windward, bothopn starboard, GBR looks for the hook, but their foils are not in sync, and the boat heels too far and then rears up with the rudder dropping, and then falls to the water, a less dramatic version of American Magic's incident. ITA gets away and GBR looks to be a touch late. ITA bears away at them just before the gun, GBR risks being shut out at the left pin, and tacks away. The start ends up almost even. LR tacks to port, slightly ahead.

GBR comes off the left boundary and Luna Rossa is coming back at them, they keep trading tacks, the lead barely 60m, both trying to get the right-hand side of the course. ITA is tacking a little better, edging ahead, staying in phase.

Luna Rossa rounds ahead at Gate 1, Delta is 0:12. Downwind they stay in phase again, Luna Rossa covering though the left looks better. ITA extends to 180m as they gybe, 10 seconds at the second gate. Loose cover continues. At Gate 3, LR turns left, GBR follows. ITA pulled ahead slightly, 21 seconds.

GBR is looking to find a split from Luna Rossa, but pushing to the right boundary doesn’t help, and ITA takes the left side and extends. A right-hand shift gives ITA a much better line to the gate, and quickly gets from 300m to 500m lead. Into Gate 4, Luna Rossa turns left, gybing at the mark. GBR coming in from the other side will also take the left, and is only 22 seconds behind.

GBR tacks immediately after rounding, the JK maneuver. ITA goes to the right-hand boundary first. Wind is lifting from the right, ITA sailing a bit higher, and the lead settles in at 300m as they sail the final upwind leg.

ITA gives GBR a bit of space, letting them have the left. GBR tacks to port a bit short of the left boundary. ITA tacks a little above GBR’s line, and goes back to a loose cover, trying to protect the favored side and stay in phase.

LR’s upwind speed pays off, they round the final upwind gate, turning left, delta up to 37s. Last leg, ITA will be able to sail very deep on this leg on port gybe. They have the lead up to 750m with half the leg to go. The wind shift leaves GBR with little in the way of tactics.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli wins Race 4! The finsh delta is 0:41. ITA leads the series by 4-0.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is now three wins away from Challengin for the AMerica's Cup. See you next Wednesday! Or, considering the weather forecast, Friday.

See Prada Cup Schedule | Results

Prada Cup Final Day 3

Saturday, Feb 20, Auckland

INEOS Team UK (GBR)
vs.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA)

Before Race 5, ITA leads series 4-0, Best of 13 Series (First to Seven)
Winner Challenges NZL for the America's Cup

Race Area: Course E (Under Covid Alerts, Race Areas B and C will not be used, to discourage on-shore gathering of spectators.)

Weather: Wind 8-10 kts SW (RepCast). 8-10 knots SW (Official Race Forecast via Predictwind). Course axis approximately 215 degrees.

Race 5:
Warning Signal 4:12pm, Start 4:15pm
ITA (port entry) d. GBR (stbd.) and leads series 5-0

Race 6:
Start approximately 25 minutes after R3
GBR (port) d. ITA (stbd) and series is now 5-1 for ITA

Outlook:
It's not over, but INEOS Team UK has to turn the results around quickly. If Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sweeps another day, they will be on match point. Racing ends on the 24th regardless, and if more than a couple delays or postponements figure in, there might not even be the opportunity for GBR to catch up.

In an unverifiable anecdote from the days of the New York Yacht Club's long reign in the America's Cup, the distinguished head of the America's Cup Committee, anxious to avoid another controversy in the pre-start, simply instructs the defending skipper "Don't feel you have to dominate the challenger in the pre-start. Just so long as you are comfortably ahead."

INEOS might heed that advice, not try to win the race in the pre-start by forcing a confrontation so much that penalties (or worse) result. Just start a race from ahead, sail their own race, and keep between Luna Rossa and the next mark. Easier said than done. GBR did start Race 2 about even or slightly ahead, with the Italians on their weather hip, and Luna Rossa tacked away on the first beat, then came back with the lead. Possibly ITA's gain was the result of GBR's leading to the wrong side of the course, but ITA has generally looked faster upwind, on boatspeed and especially on VMG, so INEOS has their work cut out for them after the starting gun. Start well enough, but sail faster.

Another school of thought in some quarters is that INEOS just needs to get "their" weather conditions. However, so far neither light wind nor the upper range has looked to favor GBR, making it unclear what conditions they should prefer. Possibly GBR has used the ensuing week since Race 4 to assess Prada's performance and tune up their own boat to stack up better head-to-head. Or maybe Ben Ainslie has been able to game out the behaviors of Francesco Bruni and Jimmy Spithill, co-helming the Italian boat, and found a way to leverage their own tactics against them. INEOS need to find something. Helpful would be smooth crew work, with a few small glitches last weekend taking GBR out of the hunt just at the points when they might have found their way back into the race.

Without at least a split in the results today, GBR will have almost no margin left. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has improved in every round, and not just in tiny amounts. They are probably faster this weekend than last. You can be sure nobody is paying closer attention than Emirates Team New Zealand.

Race 5:
Puffy with sea breeze coming in, 8-11 knots, 6 leg course, course 245 degree axis. Jibs: J1 on GBR, smaller J2 LR.

ITA pre-start entry on time. Prada crosses, GBR follows. ITA heads to the right-hand boundary and back, on starboard sits below and ahead of GBR. They are both trying to time the line. As they close up for the starting signal, ITA threatens to box GBR out at the starboard end. GBR tacks to port right at the line, both are OCS and GBR is penalized also for windward/leeward. The OCS penalties cancel each other.

GBR, with WW/LW to clear, goes to the right-hand boundary and back quickly, LR immediately comes at them on port and tacks in their water ahead. GBR picks up an additional penalty to offset advantage gained, and has to give up 50m distance. They are slow to complete the full penalty. Luna Rossa comes in again on port and tacks ahead, GBR has to slow, and makes it easy to do so. ITA positioning solidifies their lead. 15 seconds at the top gate, both take the right gate.

Leg 2: ITA leading downwind in a cover as they head to the left, gybe at the boundary, and set up for the downwind gate. GBR has to follow, a bit high for the right gate, and Luna Rossa will gybe to take the left knowing GBR has to follow. 20 seconds at the downwind gate.

Both head to the right-hand boundary and then take a long starboard tack. ITA is doing a little better on speed, and VMG, lead is stretching beyond 400m. Wind is solid, and filling in. The right is looking better. Luna Rossa keeps extending, though, on either side. As they trade tacks, lead is out to 600m. ITA tacks at the starboard layline. They round 0:58 ahead.

Downwind Luna Rossa continues to extend. Not really covering at 900m ahead. 1:01 at the 4th Gate. 1:19 at the final upwind gate. Luna Rossa is 1200m ahead.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli wins Race 5 by 1:20! They now leads the series 5-0.

Race 6:
Start on-time. Winds 12-14 kts. GBR again with a larger jib. Even start, both on starboard. Very even off the line. ITA tacks to port early. GBR to the left hand side.

ITA will tack at the right-hand course boundary and try to cross. They can’t quite make it ahead and GBR tacks to starboard, leebows ITA, and ITA has to tack to port again for a short return to the right-hand boundary. GBR takes the long starboard tack. Even though they are tacking well, the extra tacks hurt ITA.

GBR tries to run away with it, and hopes to make it to the port layline. ITA back on port, trailing by 50-60m. They will cross again, ITA on Starboard, but GBR gets across. Can INEOS lay the mark? Yes, they point up and round the first windward gate, turning right. INEOS’s first lead of the series at the mark. ITA, 8 seconds behind, follows them right. Downwind, GBR on port to the boundary, ITA gybes early.

No cover as GBR lets ITA go alone to either side of the course. GBR’s lead out to 200m. The British seem to be going slightly better in these conditions downwind. The wind is a bit spotty.GBR can lay the bottom mark, looks set up to turn left. ITA is 250m back, and still to gybe for the right hand turn. GBR’s lead increases, delta is 21 seconds.

ITA tacks after rounding to get separation and head for the left-hand side. ITA will hit the left-hand boundary and try to get to the right, which looks favored and helping GBR. GBR on starboard tacks ahead of them, hoping to bounce them away. Right-hand shift, both boat tack to take advantage, but ITA has less room to use it. Lead is down to 200m. ITA probably tacking better, a little faster. GBR bounces them left again. The better wind on the right is helping GBR. Lead extends to 260m. GBR tacks at the starboard layline. They can lay the gate, ITA is behind and closing, but will trail at the mark. Lead is 1560m. Halfway through the race, GBR turns left, ITA follows. Delta is 18 seconds.

Downwind, GBR is sailing a little faster and getting the favored side of the course, and stronger wind. The lead is out to 400m. Now 500m. Now 600m. GBR turns left at the bottom gate, ITA turns right. The gap is 32 seconds.

On the final upwind, GBR is far enough ahead they can’t easily cover ITA on the other side of the course yet. ITA is pouring it on upwind. GBR may try to protect the right again. but carries on starboard tack a bit past ITA’s track. ITA has closed up to 150m and is a bit far right of GBR at they pass the middle of the course. Wind gets spotty and GBR goes left, ITA tries starboard tack, and then back to port soon after. ITA hopes to find something on the right. Wind goes left and ITA tacks to use it. As they cross the gap is about 150m. The top gate is approaching. GBR going to the starboard layline. ITA may want to stick it out to the left and save a tack. The lead is 50m as ITA tacks to port headed for the gate. GBR will turn left, ITA will turn right. Difference is 9 seconds at the final upwind gate.

Downwind has been better for the Brits, so this should play to them. The wind is lighter at the bottom of the course. They both split to opposite side, GBR left, ITA right. When they come back together GBR covers. Nearing the finish, there isn't’t any room left for Luna Rossa to do much about it.

INEOS TEAM UK wins Race 6! The final margin is 0:14. This is GBR’s first win of the series, which now stands at 5-1.

ITA leads series now 5-1.

Racing Resumes Sunday with Races 7 and 8.

Prada Cup Prada Cup Final Day 4

Sunday, Feb 21, Auckland

Result: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sweeps the day and becomes the Challenger for the America's Cup

INEOS Team UK (GBR)
vs.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA)

Before Race 7, ITA leads series 5-1, Best of 13 Series (First to Seven)
Winner Challenges NZL for the America's Cup

Race Area: Course A (Under Covid Alerts, Race Areas B and C will not be used, to discourage on-shore gathering of spectators.)

Weather: Wind 20-24 kts N to NNE (RepCast). Wind 8-12 knots NNE (Official Race Forecast via Predictwind). Course axis approximately 30/210 degrees.

Race 7:
Warning Signal 4:12pm, Start 4:15pm
ITA (port entry) d. GBR (stbd.)

Race 8:
Start approximately 25 minutes after R7 finish
GBR (port) loses. ITA (stbd), ITA wins the Prada Cup!

There will two races per day, as sailing conditions permit, through Feb 24 until a winner reaches 7 points, which is two more wins for ITA or six more wins for GBR. If on the 24th neither team has reached seven points, the team with the most points will win the series. If the teams are tied on points, the winner of the most recent race will win the series. See Full Schedule

Outlook:
One more win and LRPP will be on match point. A sweep for them today and it's over. Ineos can't give up much. They sailed a smart race, finding favorable wind much of the time, yesterday in Race 6. And showed they can be competitive if they sail smoothly. Upwind Luna Rossa showed better VMG, downwind yesterday INEOS sailed a bit lower for the better VMG. But importantly, from ahead GBR controlled the course and ITA couldn't solve that in the first two upwind legs. It's a lot to ask GBR to do that for 6 more races and not let Italy get through. Lighter conditions expected today at the start may complicate everybody's plans.

Race 7:
6 Legs. On time Start.

Both start on starboard, full-speed timed start, GBR to leeward. Even, and they go to the left boundary, ITA tacks a few seconds early, GBR tacks in sync with them, and ITA shows better speed coming out of the tack. ITA’s leebow makes GBR go back to port, unable to live on ITA’s weather hip.

ITA soon follows, looking to tack to port on top of GBR coming from the boundary. ITA does it, and accelerating better carves out a slim 90m lead. Halfway across, GBR tack to port again, LR goes slightly further, and covers them. Starboard tack, 100m lead for ITA. They trade tacks again, and ITA is ahead and to weather of GBR on port tack. They can make the starboard layline on this tack. 143M lead for ITA. LR tacks and heads for the left hand side of the gate. GBR has to follow. Delta at the top mark is 0:16.

Starboard tack to the righthand boundary. LR has to watch out for GBR’s downwind speed. They gybe and try to stick with a long port gybe down the course. Wind is lighter behind them. ITA extends from 200m to 300m, but not much more. The lefthand boundary comes up, GBR gybes early. ITA goes as far as they can. GBR closes in just slightly, leads down to 280m, 250m. ITA can make the port gybe layline, GBR does too. ITA is a little slower out of the gybe. They go for the left turn, GBR doesn’t follow, gybesjust before the gate to go left, hoping that separation upwind will help them. Delta at the second gate is 21 seconds.

GBR dips off their foils for a second in the rounding. They are slower to get up to speed. Wind is getting lighter and Ineos loses distance. Upwind, ITA comes back from the right hand boundary, looking to cover. The lead is up to 400m. The left looks favored, but ITA will just stick it out ahead. GBR tacks first, slow again to come out of it. Both boats probably have jibs on the small side. On starboard tack, LR is going a little better, gaining more height. Luna Rossa is hoping to make the gate in one more tack, but wind might not be there for it. They push to the lefthand boundary, letting GBR get a little separation in the process. Point mode works for LR and they can round the gate without an extra tack. They will turn right. GBR will get the extra tack, and is hurt in the lower wind at the right hand side. The Delta has jumped to 1:07.

ITA is over 700m ahead as they start the second downwind leg. GBR takes about 100m out of them, but LR rounds, turning left, going for the final upwind leg. GBR turns right. Delta is 1:02.

The lead is about 600m to ITA. Luna Rossa is sailing a loose cover again, just trying to keep momentum going around the course. They stretch out slightly as the boats tack up the course. Lead of 700M, then a slow tack for GBR again and ITA adds another 100m. 1:45 delta at the final upwind gate.

Downwind, ITA leads by 1200m. Nearly half the leg.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli wins Race 7! Finish delta is 1:45. ITA leads the series 6-0.

Race 8:
Coming up. Match Point for ITA.

ITA tries the hook as they are both heading for the line. Just before the gun, GBR tacks to port and crosses ITA, narrowly avoiding a penalty. ITA is OCS and has to slow. Small lead for GBR, but not enough to leverage it on ITA, and ITA sails through it and leads around gate 1. Delta is 0:12.

Downwind, ITA lets GBR split to the left. GBR get a little breeze, and INEOS pulls within 150m. They trade sides of the course, ITA coming into the gate from the left, GBR from the right. LR turns right, GBR a bit slow out of the last gybe. Delta at the bottom gate is 0:12.

Upwind, converging on Leg 3, ITA coming from the left tacks to starboard on GBR’s line rather than cross. GBR tries following for a bit, but tacks back to port early. ITA into a loose cover, back to port. Lead extends slightly to 200m. ITA just slowly adding distance. 0:34 delta at the second windward gate.

Downwind, LR is out to 400m lead. Keeping a close cover. Wind is hanging in at about 9.5-10 kts. Luna Rossa will round the lefthand gate, turn left, and head up the final windward leg. GBR turns right, Delta 0:36.

Up the final windward, LR with a cover, lead 350-400m. A good left shift and they cover a bit more loosely and take the lift for a couple hundred meters. ITA can get to the port layline, GBR will have one more tack. Lead is 450m approaching the final upwind gate. ITA turns right, GBR will come in on starboard and turn left. Delta is up to 0:53.

Downwind for the last time, Luna Rossa is ahead 625m and GBR is too far back to do a whole lot at this point.

Luna Rossa wins Race 8, wins the Prada Cup, and will be the 36th challenger for the America's Cup!