Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90
Product Feature
LALIZAS Sigma Inflatable Lifejacket 170N, ISO Adult
LALIZAS Sigma Inflatable Lifejacket 170N, ISO Adult

Luna Rossa's journey in the Louis Vuitton Cup finals comes to an end

by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 4 Oct 20:15 BST 4 October 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli after the final race - Louis Vuitton Cup Final - October 4, 2024 © Carlo Borlenghi / Luna Rossa

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's campaign for the 37th America's Cup closed today, as the team was defeated by INEOS Britannia on the seventh day of the Louis Vuitton Cup finals. There was great disappointment within the Italian team, as their chance to compete in the America's Cup Match slipped away.

The sense of pride throughout the squad was tangible for having been part of challenging and thrilling races, in what has been the fifth time that the team reaches the finals of the Challenger Selection Series. Luna Rossa once again put on a display of strength and maturity of a team of top professionals that has captivated the sailing world and showcased the excellence of Made in Italy.

MATCH #11 - GBR vs ITA

Luna Rossa bid her farewell to the 37th America's Cup after an intense and hard-fought race. Starting windward of the British boat, Luna Rossa tacked to the right and closed in on their opponent halfway up the first beat.

They were however unable to cross ahead, and INEOS Britannia rounded the first mark in the lead. The rest of the race saw Luna Rossa battling hard, searching for favorable shifts and putting immense pressure on their rivals.

The race tightened during the fifth leg, with the Italian boat rounding the mark just 4 seconds behind. Despite Luna Rossa's efforts, INEOS Britannia held them off and left no room for a comeback.

Winner: GBR (+1 point)

Luna Rossa's crew today featured Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni at the helm, with Umberto Molineris and Andrea Tesei as trimmers. The cyclors on board were Enrico Voltolini, Bruno Rosetti, Cesare Gabbia and Emanuele Liuzzi.

Quotes from the sailors

Francesco Bruni praised his rival at the end of the race, saying, "Congratulations, Ben, you deserved it," to Sir Ben Ainslie, helmsman and Team Director of Ineos Britannia. Addressing his team and Italian supporters, he added: "This is a very, very tough moment for me personally and for all of us. We've done an extraordinary job as a team, and I want to thank each of you individually for what you've done. Unfortunately, we didn't achieve the result we hoped for. Thank you, everyone, for your support. You made us dream. We had everything we needed to be in the match race for the Cup, but we didn't perform well in the finals. INEOS deserved to win. It didn't go our way, but Luna Rossa will come back even stronger."

Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director, commented: "It's always a strange feeling when a journey of over three years with so many people comes to an end, people who become like family. I want to thank everyone who shared this challenge with us, as well as the fans who have followed Luna Rossa for many years. Credit must go to Patrizio Bertelli, Lorenzo, and the Prada family for their unwavering commitment to this sport. I also want to thank Marco Tronchetti Provera and all our partners and sponsors for believing in us and supporting us throughout these years. The good news is that the team will continue, and that's what matters most for sailing, for the young sailors, and for all the fans. The America's Cup is an incredibly difficult trophy to win—almost impossible. The only way to do it is to keep trying and make one fewer mistake than your opponent. Today, we must credit INEOS Britannia for sailing better than we did. The important thing is to go home with no regrets, knowing we gave our best. Thank you all."

Jimmy Spithill said: "First, I want to thank the entire Luna Rossa team—it's been an incredible adventure. This is my third campaign with the team, and it has truly become a family for me. I'm really sorry we didn't achieve the goal, but I'm immensely grateful to everyone for the incredible work that has been done. At the same time, I want to congratulate Ineos Britannia and especially Ben, who is a good friend. I've raced both with and against him, and I respect him a lot. I'm happy for his success today."

Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, commented: "For the first time, we had the potentially fastest boat in the competition; for the first time, we had so many determined sailors on the team, and a brilliant potential ahead with promising young talent. If we focus solely on today, it wasn't a good day. But if we look at things in the right perspective, we should remain positive: today is also a day of great pride. We are a great team with a bright future. We will keep fighting and stay positive. We're here, doing amazing work, surrounded by people we love. Each of you deserves a big round of applause."

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice President of Pirelli, co-title sponsor of the team, added: "First of all, I want to thank Patrizio Bertelli for bringing me on board several years ago, and Max Sirena, the best coach in this environment and the best skipper for us and for all of you. This is not just about forming a team that competes in the America's Cup, but also about creating a generation of young sailors passionate about a sport that involves families and requires sacrifices, a sport of quality that you've shown you know how to do. You've all done an excellent job. I'm involved in many sports, but I've never encountered the quality, passion, attachment, and family support that I've seen here. You are a special team. Thank you all - you've shown what sports should be like."

Related Articles

Luna Rossa beats the British team
To win the Puig Women's America's Cup Final 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. Posted on 12 Oct
Luna Rossa secures a final spot
In the Puig Women's America's Cup With 39 points Luna Rossa closes the Puig Women's America's Cup elimination series and semifinals in second place, after a challenging and exhausting day that kept all teams busy from 10:10 am to 7:00 pm. Posted on 11 Oct
Luna Rossa tied for first place with GBR
Italian team's update after day 4 of the Puig Women's America's Cup It was a long and challenging morning for the teams of Group A on day 2 of the qualifiers for the Puig Women's America's Cup. Due to the extremely unstable breeze the Race Committee was only able to give the start to one of the four scheduled races. Posted on 10 Oct
Luna Rossa continues its journey
Patrizio Bertelli's reassurance on the future of the team The day after Luna Rossa's elimination from the Challenger Selection Finals, Patrizio Bertelli, Chairman of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, met with some media representatives to discuss the current situation and the future of the team. Posted on 6 Oct
Luna Rossa takes the provisional lead
Day 1 of the Puig Women's America's Cup for the Italian team A spectacular debut for the Luna Rossa women's crew on the opening day of the Puig Women's America's Cup, as they close the day with three wins out of four races and take the lead in the provisional standings. Posted on 5 Oct
Time for Women
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli ready for the Puig Women's America's Cup After the success of the Youth Team in the UniCredit Youth America's Cup, it is now time for the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli women to prove themselves in the Puig Women's America's Cup, scheduled to start tomorrow. Posted on 5 Oct
Luna Rossa on day 6 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final
A tough day with two losses in Barcelona A tough day for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli who loses both matches against INEOS Britannia. The sixth day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals presented complex conditions for both the Italian and British crews, with a strong east wind of 17 knots. Posted on 2 Oct
Luna Rossa on day 5 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final
Huge team power on display and the score stays even A day of massive excitement for the Luna Rossa fans who celebrated a win in the second match after a setback due to a breakage in the previous race. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli once again comes up thanks to the strength and resilience of the team. Posted on 1 Oct
Luna Rossa wins the second match of the day
A third point earned for the italian team in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final Luna Rossa and INEOS Britannia still on even score, with three points each after both teams won one match today. Penalized by a start error that cost the team its first race, Luna Rossa delivered a text-book performance in the second match. Posted on 30 Sep
Luna Rossa wins an impressive match
Staying tied with INEOS Britannia in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final Luna Rossa won the second regatta of the day, after a technical issue prevented the team from competing in the first one. Posted on 29 Sep