Luna Rossa beats the British team and wins the Puig Women's America's Cup Final
by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 13 Oct 2024 06:42 NZDT
12 October 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Women's Team win the Puig Women's America's Cup Final - October 12, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli women's team clinched their victory in the women's event after beating the Athena Pathway team in a stunning race that saw them in control from the beginning to the end.
This win confirmed the dominance of the Italian crew also in the match race format. Following the youth team's achievement in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup, this triumph further validates the success of the New Generation project launched by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in its previous campaign to nurture the future champions of Italian sailing.
Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, commented:
"I am incredibly happy for the girls. They've worked exceptionally hard to achieve this result, and they deserve a huge round of applause. This victory, together with the youth team's success, is a source of great pride for the entire team. It proves that our vision for nurturing the next generation of sailors was correct and that our training program has validated this vision. Both teams have showed talent and determination and written a new chapter in America's Cup history."
Simone Salvà, coach of the women's and youth teams at Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, said: "A double triumph! After the youth trophy the women's event also ended in the best possible way. The girls raced brilliantly throughout the whole series, especially in the final where the boats were neck-to-neck, and they performed exceptionally well despite their limited match-racing experience. We couldn't have asked for more. It's been a long journey that required a lot of hard work, but in the end we built a fantastic team filled with great talent—both among the women and the youth crews."
Jacopo Plazzi, Youth & Women's project coordinator, said: "We are delighted with the results achieved by this group which has worked together toward the same goal since the beginning of the project. Both the women and the youth teams have created something special, both on and off the water. The girls celebrated the youth team's victory as if it were their own, and today the boys did the same—and, in fact, it is. We can only be proud of all of them."
Match Race Final
In the challenging conditions of big swells and unstable 10-knot wind, Luna Rossa led the race from the start. On the first beat the Italian team moved to the left of the course, keeping the British in check and rounding the first mark in the lead. On the downwind leg the gap was extended and stretched further as the Italian team stayed focused and performed every maneuver swiftly and seamlessly. Despite the British team's best efforts, Luna Rossa didn't allow any opportunities to close the gap and sailed without errors. It was an exemplary performance, resulting in a well-deserved victory.
The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Women team comprises Giulia Conti and Margherita Porro (helmswomen), Maria Giubilei, and Giulia Fava (trimmers), Alice Linussi, Maria Vittoria Marchesini e Giovanna Micol.