LOUIS VUITTON CUP | SEMI-FINALS
Luna Rossa to face NYYC American Magic
The standard skippers press conference was held today at the 37th America's Cup Media Center, on the eve of the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals.
Having closed the Round Robins at the top of the leaderboard, therefore with the right to select their opponent for the next elimination phase, the British team Ineos chose Alinghi Red Bull Racing, deciding also to compete in the second match of the day with starboard entry.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli therefore will race the semi-finals against the USA team American Magic and tomorrow will sail the first and third matches. For the first match Jimmy Spithill has chosen to enter the pre-start box on port tack.
The semi-finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup begin tomorrow, Saturday, September 14. Four matches will be held each day (two for each pair of semi-finalists). Each victory will count for one point and the first team to reach five points wins.
«Our goal, like that of all the teams, was to reach the semi-finals,» said Jimmy Spithill, helmsman of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. «We’ve had a great learning curve, and now we just have to look ahead. We have the utmost respect for the US team, and we’ve seen in the Round Robins how strong and similar they are to us in performance. I expect some very exciting, highly competitive matches.»
«Ineos Britannia made a choice that many had predicted, but it was not guaranteed. For us, it doesn’t change much because we are facing strong opponents, and the goal remains the same: to win one race at a time and advance to the next round. We’re ready for anything. The matches against the Americans will be very interesting and it will be exciting. Whoever makes it to the final will be much more prepared,» said Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
Watch the races live on www.lunarossachallenge.com