Team New Zealand will take plenty from their dominant performance in the challenger series final to the America’s Cup match.
I never expected them to beat Luna Rossa 5-0. I did think the Kiwis would win it, but perhaps 5-2 or 5-3.
It is a funny old game when a team gets on a roll. Certainly Team New Zealand were quicker. Maybe one or two degrees higher on the wind when they wanted to be, which is not a lot, but it gives you those little metre gains that can be used as a tactical tool.
NZL92 seemed to accelerate a bit better out of tacks than Luna Rossa, which we expected because the Luna Rossa boat had more wetted surface and therefore more drag because of its hull shape.
Downwind, Team New Zealand were always able to stretch. Those little things were all valuable.
If a team are sailing well and get some momentum it can be hard to break. But there is an element of luck, and it went Team New Zealand’s way in the final race. They produced almost a perfect regatta in the way they sailed and the way they set the boat up for the conditions.
Luna Rossa’s performance makes one wonder if they sailed their best matches in their semifinal against Oracle.
The conditions probably suited them more as there was a wee bit more wind. I think their window of being quick is quite narrow – flat water and pressed up in 14-15 knots.
It is the second time in seven years that Luna Rossa have been taken apart by the Kiwis.The first was in the 2000 regatta, when they were beaten by the same 5-0 margin.
There is almost an uncanny similarity between the two regattas. In both cases Team New Zealand got on top early, and the Italians could do little about it.
The package Team New Zealand has with NZL92 is strong. It is a forgiving boat over a range of conditions.
So far, they’ve produced a huge achievement. It is often thought that winning the America’s Cup is easier than winning the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Are Team New Zealand going to be fast enough? We don’t know.
I think they will be. If they are even, given the nature of the challenger series, you’d have to favour the Kiwis.
If Alinghi have something special on their boat – maybe something different with their keel – and they have a faster boat, it will be difficult for Team New Zealand.
Why would Alinghis new boat be any faster than BMWs Oracle???
At a guess I would say ETNZ 5 – 0 Alinghi or ETNZ 5 – 1 Alinghi
because Alinghi has bunch of aging rockstars and Ed Baird
Hi Pete,
Today I listened to a fascinating interview of Simon D by PJM. Daubney asserted Alinghi had foresaken sailing practice in favour of constant tuning and testing of newe concepts. Does this perhaps mean Alinghi are relying very heavily of technical innovation rather than fine-tuned racing skills? And wasn’t it this type of thinking (the designer boat) which caused us to lose in 2003?
It’s interesting to learn that a few bits have fallen off/broken on Alinghi; but hey, the weather conditions out there are hardly Hauraki Gulf material.
Maybe Alinghi have decided to back technology because they don’t have the crew-skill.
Nice enough guy that he is, has Ed Baird ever acheived anything of any great moment?
And let’s face it, Brad will aboard with his Zimmer-frame, heart-pills, senior-citizen’s discount card, and medic-alert braclet. :–))
Lastly, what disappoints me a bit is the attitude of Luna Rossa. Throughout AC history the defender has been the pariah; to be beaten at all costs. But now we see a losing team cuddling up to the defender to help the defender. D’Angelis et al have gone way down in my estimations. The bastards are prepared to swap sides just to try to keep the AC in Europe.
Bloody traitors.
David.
Hey David
Firstly, TNZ raced against Alinghi for their own benefit, so it is quite hypocritical for us to criticise Luna Rossa for doing the same thing.
Secondly, I believe that reports of sloppy crew work on Alinghi are just one of many tools in the war of mis-information. Alinghi will be tough, damned tough and we shouldn’t expect anything less.
It has been suggested that if Alinghi thought that they would have a speed edge that it would be Baird driving the boat. I was wondering how long ago would that decision have been made(if indeed it is Baird). I assume that it would be beneficial to get the helmsman sailing with the crew for a while before the cup, afterall the helmsman is quite important, so would it be likely that the decision would hav been made before the final?
The reason why I ask is because at that stage it would have appeared that there was not a stand out boat, ETNZ had lost 2 races to the Spanish, and although Luna Rossa had beaten Oracle it was largely due to the starting skill of Spittall, so from a defenders point of view it would have been logical to think that they opposition would not be that quick. However with our speed in the final it does appear that 92 is quite fast.
If Alinghi had made the decision based on the apparent lack of speed of the challangers, would they have time to change?
It is really hard to make any predictions based on the Acts performances. And obviously based on the semis and finals of the LVC.
I’d like to add to the “wait until 5 minutes inside the first race” cliché, I think we will have to see the result of two or may be three races. I’m sure by the third race we will know who’s going to be drinking Moet out of the Auld Mug after 6 or 7 races out of the 9 available.
I just got to say that I’m relatively young (35) and luckily I have not experienced many tragedies in my life and watching NZL 82 on TV falling apart was a devastating experience so above all scientific forecasts about the AC races I really would love to see the America’s Cup back in Auckland. So GO ETNZ, the whole team it’s been doing great and I’m sure they’re up to the task.
Alinghi dominate Luna Rossa in second day of training
After Friday’s first encounter, Luna Rossa and Alinghi met for a second consecutive day on Saturday in order to train off Valencia’s coast. Although it is very difficult to know, most observers agreed on the fact that Alinghi were sailing with SUI-91 while there was no mistake Luna Rossa were racing with ITA-94.
Like yesterday, winds were very shifty and picked up considerably in the second race, reaching 12 knots at the top mark, against 8 knots at the beginning of the first race. That made both teams change their mainsail in the break and it is the reason the Alinghi yacht carried two different sail numbers (SUI-64 in the first and SUI-91 in the second).
I personally observed and photographed two races (if they can be considered so) and from what I understand the two teams also practiced a couple of prestarts before that. Again, racing started at 3pm and was followed by a large number of spectator boats. Alinghi quite easily “won” both races being twice ahead at the first crosses and top marks. Like yesterday, both races were abandoned after rounding the leeward gate and sailing upwind for a couple hundred meters. ( read tis report on Valencia sailing)
Not looking good for ETNZ if this is the speed of SUI 91 whats going to happen when they front up with SUI 100, iam sorry to say it but i think ETNZ is heading for a 5 – 0 beating.
Agahndi would have to have a design breakthrough to thrash TNZ 5 zip, because the kiwis are going to be very tough to beat on crew work.
TNZ also beat luna Roasta 5 times to the top mark, so the fact that Agahstlii did a couple of times is not to much to worry about. NZL 92 was simply faster than ITA 94, and Allerghi will have to be much faster again to beat the kiwis.
NZL 92 seems to be a very well designed all rounder, where it would seem Oracle and Luna rosa were fast in quite a narrow wind range. I wonder whether the new version of the IACC rule for this event has been a bit tricky for the designers. I believe the boats are a bit lighter (less displacement?) this time, and maybe its a bit hard to design a boat that keeps tracking well in all conditions.
To my untrained eye, it looks like NZL92 is narrower and slightly longer than SUI 100 with both teams similar in concept with quite full forward sections, Alinghi probably more so. I think TNZ may have perfected the technique of sailing fast at high heel angles, picking up extra water line length, much like a radio controlled model yacht. Luna rosa seemed to have cottoned on to this as well, but maybe their hull was a smidgin to wide on the water line and to flat on the bottom, because they did not like any chop.
Agahndi’s boats are more rounded on the bottom than luna rosa, but are still full forward, so my prediction is that TNZ will be faster in the choppy stuff, especialy down wind. I think they will be even in flat water, but if TNZ get ahead a bit and have that fast healed mode, they might be quicker. I don’t know if they can use that fast healed mode in close combat though. I don’t know much about the rigs on Alinghi or how fast they might be, but TNZ do seem to have some very nice looking sails.
I don’t know if I am talking a load of rot with all this, but I do love the design aspect of the americas cup and sailing in general, because there are so many variables and different winning formulas.
If Agreedhi have pulled a rule bender and have a bendy keel then we miles well pack up now, but I really hope this is not the case.
I can’t wait for the racing to start yeeeaaaaahooooo!!!!!
Ps. Andy, I am only 29 so I am even more frightened.
I here that if Alinghi have a speed advantage Baird would drive.
Now to me, this is only a rumour and a bloody good one as there is no reason why Alinghi would give out these sets of conditions for who drives the boat.
Think about it – hmm I know lets tell everyone if we have baird driving then we have a quicker boat. That way our opposition will be vary of us.
Likewise, they wouldn’t put holmburg on now as it would be saying they think they’ve got a slow boat.
As for all these interviews and the like say Daubney – guys he is going to throw all sorts of things in the conversation that are not even true or are slightly twisted.
And for the two boat testing with Luna – yeah I can imagine Torben and Spit, trimmers and the like giving it 110%. You cant read anything into it.
Oh yeah and Luna Rosa had the second crew driving – ahhahaha lol -
I should hope alinghi would be bet them
Jays,
With respect; get real. ETNZ was messing with Allinghi for their own benefit, as challengers. Luna Rossa’s lot are actively helping the defender. A quite different scenario.
Hey for the guys in Valencia,
apart for the big bunch of kiwis there, how’s the feeling from the public? Who are they supporting in general? I ask becuase Alunghi is a team lead by an Italian using the Swiss flag with american, kiwis, germans, swedish, nepalese (may be) in the team. The AC was supposed to be a contest of nations… wasnt it? so which nation will be supporting Alinghi? Nepal?? Have you seen many Swiss flags around?
Go ETNZ!
Dear Ed, Alinghi dominating Luna Rosa – nice to see. Hey did anyone tell you that Luna Rosa had there back crew sailing the ‘races’
Love your back up for a predicition that TNZ will lose 5 zip.
David
With all due respect, get real yourself.
It is to Luna Rossa’s benefit to see the cup staying in Europe, which is clearly for their benefit.
Hence, they are doing the same thing as TNZ did.
Please respect the ability to comment here guys, in general the comments and opinion are of high quality. Lets keep it that way. It would be a shame to remove it like many of the other blogs have. Cheers
Hey Lesters (Ver 1.0 and 2.0), is there anything to report from the ETNZ base in Valencia?
There is not much at the official site and I wonder about what they could be doing now that (we expect) they recovered from a great LVC hangover.
Regarding the Jay-David row, I didn’t like when TNZ practiced against Alinghi. I don’t like the fact that the Defender takes part of the Acts (the idea could be great for the publicity of the sport and for the sponsors to get more exposure but I think goes against the traditional spirit of the America’s Cup competition). And I really hope for the good of future AC contests that they respect the (un-written I believe) rule about no one can race the defender previous to the actual AC matches.
Thanks for your thoughts Damian.. i just feel that we are all putting a lot of expectation on ETNZ, yes sure Luna Rosa might have raced with a B team on Saturday but to be 48sec behind after just one lap… but how do we know Alinghi didnt have a B team out there, and the one photo i did see of alinghi had the sail number SUI 64 on it, thats a very old mainsail. I have a boat building mate in Valencia and has just pointed out to me that SUI100 have only just got a mesurement certificate. My only take on why they have left it to the last minute is because they have something to hide (canting keel perhaps ???)
And just one more point please remind me or other bloggers when was the last time an Americas Cup was won by the best crew work and not the FASTEST boat ????
ED
The stuff about canting keels was Alinghi trying to spread FUD in the other teams. We’ve all seen stuff like that coming out of Brad’s mouth before so no need to get concerned any. Short of getting rid of the trim tab and sailing sideways down the course there is no way to legally add a canting keel to a IACC boat, the rules were designed specifically to prevent it.
SUI-100 is the most recent of this generation’s IACC boats and they’ve been doing a hell of a lot of in house testing to make it go faster (just like we did with NZL-60 and… well lets not mention NZL-82), so only just getting her measurement certificate is no surprise at all. In fact, I was expecting them to hold off for a few more days, but I guess they’re happy with it and want a few extra days to get used to its setup.
The America’s cup got _defended_ by a slower boat on a number of occations (having the rules stacked in one’s favour certainly helps), but since ’83 the faster boat has always won in the America’s Cup racing proper (unless you think NZL-82 was faster than SUI-64 which is entirely possible. Ooops, I mentioned it!). Slower boats often beat faster boats in the LVC, however. US-55 vs KZ-7 in ’87, arguably ITA-25 beating out NZL-20 and JPN-26 in ’92. USA-61 was probably a bit quicker than ITA-45 in ’00, but exploding green spinnakers is hardly indicative to winning races. Generally it’s more about being psychologically stronger rather than having better teamwork, these days the better teams hardly make any crewwork mistakes, even young and inexperienced teams like Desafio.
Hi,
I’m an Italian fan of Luna Rossa and I don’t like to see our team training Alinghi the same way I didn’t like TNZ and Alinghi training together before the LVC final.
I don’t see any difference, sorry David. But I disagree with both decisions.
The defender should be let alone!
I think they (LR) are only trying to understand how far from the defender our boat is, because maybe in a near future, there will be a new Red Moon rising. I hope so, and I don’t think they want to give Alinghi an advantage. ETNZ beated us so easily that they couldn’t..
Go ETNZ! Sail fast and take the Auld Mug to Auckland again.
Giulio from Italy
Some good points Carl. I have been suprised how the psychological element has been so important this time, TNZ are in good shape in this area so maybe Alinghi have to try and psyc them out, or psyc themselves up a bit to be competitive in this area.
Regarding Alinghi sailing with the challengers, there could be some questions raised here if they defend the cup. Alinghi must have an advantage by sailing with the challengers in the acts, and more recently. One thing I thought could be a concern is how early NZL 84 was introduced and the extra time alinghi have had to evaluate the design concept. I would imagine they would be clever enough and rich enough to run a near copy of NZL84 hull through the test tank and get some idea of relative performance vs their own shape. They may be fast in their own right, but if they felt they were behind a bit, sailing in the acts and the extra time to develop their own (or another teams) concept , would be very valuable.
Maybe they should just go all the way and include the defender in the round robin series with one ultimate final.
I don’t like the format of this cup very much, with the shorter races and the very short round robin series. I know its better for TV, but the weather stuffed all that up any way. If they have these short races they should have at least 3 rounds and maybe knock off one of the acts. I have to wonder whether six leg race’s would have revealed a better picture of the true potential of each boat. I don’t like how the race is often over after the start or first cross. The challenger final in 2000 should be the bench mark to aim for, and alot of the action happened on leg 6, which is way better TV any way.
Cheers for the relpy Ed.
The point I was trying to make is that it unreasonable to use LR – Alinghi race today or when ever they have one as a comparasion of boat speed when using a B team.
Untill we see the two boats sailing in full race mode next to each other, nobody can predict the out come as you have nothing to back it up with.
I have one question though – one assumes that the SUI100 & SUI91 can sail to there hearts content with out having the boat measured. My question is – what would be the advantage of SUI100 getting a measurement cert other right before the series . There is no reason why they would do, so I dont see what the fuss is all about them only just getting it.
Hi!!! I am italian but I am very happy that Emirates Team New Zealand won against luna rossa!!! I am a kiwis supporter, and I hope Nz will win the America’s cup!!!!
They are absolutely the best!!!!
kind regards!!!
Vale
From what i understand, any boat that has raced in a Act or LVC must have a mesurement cert… once these are issued they are in the public domain.. So that would mean that team designers would have a fear idea of the modes of each boat… so SUI 91 must have a current mesurement cert…So why would Alinghi be getting a cert so late unless they where trying to hide something…..
ED
G’day Giulio and Vale. Thanks very much for your support for ETNZ and the Kiwi challenge. We’d love to welcome you back to the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, City of Sails – to have another crack at the Cup next time (assuming we can knock off Alinghi this time around, that is).
Although we were obviously delighted to win the LVC this time, many of us were sorry to see Luna Rossa bow out. Regards, David G
You only need to have a current measurement certificate before you can compete in any Act/LVC race/ the America’s Cup itself. It’d be time consuming and pointless to get one everytime you change the boats during in house testing. Alinghi isn’t doing anything different from what we did, in fact we left it right until the last minute. If there was a defender series then that’d be a different story though.
It almost sounds like something Conner would say. “So if you wanted to get a cert so late then why would you do it? Unless you wanted to hide something.” Okay, I paraphrase slightly. Maybe ETNZ should demand core samples of SUI-100.
I’ve always been fond of Italy’s involvement in the AC and it’s a shame the scoreline didn’t do justice to how close the two teams were this time. I hope that if Patrizio Bertelli decides not to enter again that someone else will step up and form a really competitive team. It took the Australians six tries to win the cup, so keep trying.
Ed does have a very good point in Alinghi racing with a possibly B team crew and old boat with old sails and still beating Luna rossa by 48secs.
That does worry me a little.
I really don’t want to see the same happening to Luna Rossa (5-1 to BMW, 0-5 to TNZ)
happen to us.
I agree with every comment on this page that Alinghi have something to hide,
and since nobody have any detail reports of them during the LV cup their true powers may remain unknown until probably the first day of the AC.
In some ways the competition between NZ and Italy is what the americas cup is suposed to be all about, “a friendly competition between nations”. Other than the bow sprit incident in 92, (which Pual Cayard probably had more to do with any way) we have had some fantastic racing against them.
I hope the americas cup doesn’t turn into a battle of the billionairs, who look for a country to ligitamise a challenge. In some ways I have the attitude that if TNZ are not competitive with Alinghi, then maybe the america’s cup is getting out of reach of primarily sponsorship funded challengers. This americas cup series has been the most expensive ever, even China team had a similar budget to what TNZ had when they won the cup in 95. Maybe its time to limit the cost some how and even tighten up the nationality rules, after all there is NO WAY alinghi would have won the cup in 03 if the heart of TNZ wasn’t on board.
I agree with several commentators that the very nature of the races needs a good rev-up so that processional nature of the current competition is removed. Even ‘Raw Meat’ asserts the races will be won at the start plus a little luck with picking the first shift. But after that??? It’s largely just a procession unless a significant windshift occurs, and then that’s just good/bad luck.
Although I don’t profess to be a doyen of course design (hey, I’m only kidding, I’m actually great:–)))…)
What about…..You might like to draw this on a peice of paper…..
1. The first mark is 1.5Ks up each lay-line. Each boat must choose left or right before the start. The boat which calls race-control first, before the ten minute gun, gets first choice.
2. Upon rounding, each boat must then reach to the others’ lay-line mark.
Think about this…At the start the dominant boat can cram down the servient boat till mid-course, then cover must be broken. And so, in that first phase the game would be to try to force the opponent away from his mark.
3. At the cross, o0n the reach, another dial-up would be allowable, and the dominant boat could chase the servient right back to the start line if that was deemed valuable. But think of that! In mid course we get to see yet another clash of the Titans. In other words, the race would effectivly start again. And let’s face it, it’s the starts which get us all excited.
Or, if the Stb-hand boat thought it had an advantage it could go above or below the other boat. Given that no GPS would be allowed, the navigators would need to be really good in deciding whether to dial-up on the cross or run for the next mark.
4. Upon rounding the opponents mid-lay-line mark the next mark would be the normal windward. So each would have to make every effort to engage again.
5. After rounding the top mark, the boat which chose left or right would have to sail to the opposite lay-line mark (same mid-lay-line mark) but the other boat could choose to either go to that mark or to the other.
Once again, on gaining the mark each boat would then reach for the other mark and, once again a dial-up would be allowed somewhere in mid-field. Imagine the potential for mayhem to occur when the Port boat chooses a dial up with the Stb boat still having a kite up!!!
6. Then the run to the finish, except, prior to running for the line, each boat must go through a gat of no more than 200M wide, set in the perpendicular from the top mark to the finish.
Once again the potential for a dial-up presents.
In other words, this process could see four effective ‘starts’ in each race. The emphasis would be taken away from pure boat-speed (and the resulting procession) and put far more firmly into the hands of super crew work and tacticians nouse.
This is just one of many scenarios, and I welcome any and all others. But I do have to say that races won, more or less at the start, do get a bit boring, especially if ETNZ is behind….Seriously folks….. This procession racing really is a bit boring, huh? At least this concept takes a little bit away from the spending of gazilllions of bucks to build the fastest boat. It’s the crews we wish to see tangle, not the boats.
And I agree with what I believe is Grant Dalton’s idea that it should be nation-against-nation, not Kiwis-against-Kiwis, which is pretty much what this AC is all about.
Hell’s teeth. We may as well call it the NZ Cup, given that so many of the sailors are Kiwi.
Cheers
David.
David.
I’d like to see boats where the use of electronic devices is not permitted.
With no communications with meteo teams at all. Just an official bullettin. This will save a lot of money.
And nationality rules should be based on birth certificate… for at least 60% of the sailing crew (especially the afterguard).
I’d like to see a format with more and longer races (something like AC 2000 in Auckland would be ok) with a wider range of permitted wind strength.
Of this edition I liked the Acts in the years before the real Cup: they keep the event alive and made sponsors and supporters happy.
Cheers
Giulio
The bowsprit thing in 92 didn’t cause us to lose – we willingly gave up using it and then defeated ourselves. Bowsprits aren’t illegal in IACC boats (Shosholoza and the so-called China team had them this year), it was simply a matter of how they are used.
Other than that, I’m in full agreement. If the costs increase next-time as much as they did this time then there isn’t going to be a hell of a lot of challengers who are in a position to win. US$200 million is just way too much. I can vaguely remember folks complaining about how expensive that US$8 million it cost to run a campaign in 1986-7 was. I’m pretty sure the dollar hasn’t inflated that much in twenty years.
Trouble is that you can’t put a dollar figure on it, cos money goes a lot further in places like China for example.
And it is very difficult to enforce rules like no weather teams, cos what actually constitutes a weather team?
I think that sadly the cost of having a team in this thing is just gonna keep getting higher, which is a shame when you consider all the countries that could afford an entry even if the costs were capped at about 30 Mill
They could restrict some of the materials, I bet a dacron main wouldn’t cost $150 000, and it would last a bit longer to!!
Hey Pete
I’ll be writing the song for TNZ… getting lyrics down and my increasing group of drummers learning it… hope all is well… might have to send the results of the song to you… actually a song written last year would be great.. “Kiwi”… anyhow.. take care and keep the guys strong!
regards.. Pete Chatteris
David and any other creative mind that would like to “rev-up” the competition,
Match racing as we know it started around 1940 (or earlier). Modern America’s Cup helped to promote this type of sailing race. I love this game. Simple as that.
There’s same people that enjoys playing chess or watching rugby league. I don’t particularly like chess or rugby league I like union so I watch union and I try to avoid chess tournaments.
What is wrong with classic match racing and the America’s Cup that needs so much revamp?
I live in Auckland and I’ve done a bit of harbour racing. That’s all my racing background and over the years I had lots of people telling me: “oh what’s so cool about getting wet, freezing in winter, going really slow around the harbour on a yacht?” and I usually avoid answering to that or I ask back if they ever feel passion for some leisure activity they might like to do. Because even when there’s 2 knots of wind and the race is cancelled after 4 hours of just drifting I do not get bored. I enjoy it.
So throwing ideas about how the AC should be (and this includes Mr. Bertarelli) gets me a bit annoyed. I honestly enjoy watching every second of the race. I missed just a few races from the LVC and I didn’t miss one from the final obviously.
Of course I admit that the spectacle has to evolve and it will regardless of our opinions.
I see the future of the AC very similar to what the F1 is today. ETNZ, Alinghi, Oracle, Prada will be the Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Renault of today. I just hope that the “processions” are longer than 90 minutes.
David I don’t want to engage in any row. I just disagree with you and some commentators. You don’t personally annoy me. (Politically correct disclaimer so I’m not taken the wrong way)
People keep comparing the americas cup to F1 but there are some pretty big differences. F1 has a simply massive industry with tons of cash backing it ,sailing does not. When was the last time a yachting industry company was a major sponsor?
A better comparison would be the A1 GP, a competition between nations with limits on spending. I am not saying the AC should go one design, but with some careful cost saving measures the event can still be on the cutting edge of technology and be accessable to a larger number of nations. If the AC keeps going down this path of huge expense, it will become like F1 and NZ won’t be able to be a part of it.
I also love sailing, and understand what you mean Andy about just being on the water, but unfortunately some of our sailing bretheren don’t feel the same and must win at all costs. I am sure many sailors have stories of some poor sport with a big cheque book who sticks a big roach on the main and tries to sail on the same handicap etc. It puts a bad taste in everyones mouth. I guess the point I am making is that some times these poor sports become billionairs and can write some pretty big cheques.
Dear David, I hope Nz will win America’s Cup, ’cause I am going to Auckland next August, an I want to see the Cup there, in my favourite country…NEW ZEALAND!!! I am so in love with Nz and kiwis that in July I am going to valeNZia to support Emirates Team New Zealand!!!!!
Go kiwis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What about a strict supporters nationality rule for the next AC?
It’s a joke Vale.
I like the kiwis too.
I love New Zealand and Auckland, City of Sails, even if I’ve never been there.
But Azzurra, Italia, Il Moro di Venezia, +39, Mascalzone Latino and most of all, Luna Rossa have the 100% of my heart.
Hi Giulio! Nice to meet you!! you know, I am a particular
person, probably born in the wrong place! I linked your name and I discovered that you are a Luna Rossa’s Fan!!!!!Terrible!!! I am joking too!!!
About Nz I can tell you that it is wounderful, and people are special, very friendly and kind. Tell me, what do you think about Luna Rossa crew? I don’t like them very much… I have followed all their interviews and they seemed to be very haughty and not enough professional…that’s what I felt about them. On the opposite, kiwis have been very professional, self confident, but in the right way. Probably you don’t agree with me, but that’s my way…and my heart is all for kiwis…
Hi Vale! Nice to meet you too!
I don’t think Luna Rossa’s people are arrogant at all, on the contrary I think they’ve always had a lot of respect for every other team they’ve raced against.
An overwhelming victory and a heavy defeat never changed their attitude.
If you know Francesco De Angelis you know what I mean.
He is a man who thinks that the less said, the better, who lets the facts speak for themselves.
Italians did their best to win till the end, even in the last race, on the 0-4 score, always trying to keep hope alive. They never gave up, and that’s why I’m proud of them.
I think Italian press was a shame as always.. They immediately jump on the bandwagon but let you down as soon as they can.
It seems that in Italy football and Formula 1 are the only sports who have dignity!
PS
After a little search on the nzherald’s site I’ve found this…
(consider it was after 2000 AC in Auckland)
“America’s Cup skippers Russell Coutts and Italian Francesco de Angelis have been given special plaudits in the Queen’s Birthday Honours today.
…
His award is notable because few foreigners receive New Zealand honours.
…
De Angelis – nicknamed “Il Barone” for his gentlemanly manner – became a surprise Kiwi hero through the Cup regatta.
His award citation reads: “His sportsmanship and the high profile of the Prada team considerably enhanced the profile of Italy in New Zealand and Italian-New Zealand relations.”
…
Ciao a tutti.
E forza New Zealand! Spero che la coppa la vincano i veri Kiwi!
(Go TNZ! I hope the real Kiwis will win the Cup)
From http://www.lunarossafanclub.it (it’s in the home page, just scroll down)
This is a letter Peter Blake wrote to the Prada Team a few days after their defeat against Team New Zealand in the 2000 AC.
DEDICATED TO LUNA ROSSA
The America’s Cup is an elusive trophy, and has rarely changed hands in the last 150 years. This is not a sport for the faint hearted. It is not a quest to take lightly or on a whim. It is a fight between sailors from yacht clubs all over the world that desperately want the same thing: get their hands on the Cup. The prestige for the winner has more value than any other sporting achievement. It’s winning the invincible and doing the impossible that attract sailors, dreamers and millionaires, but the victory is not easy, and most of the time it doesn’t happen. The only way to win is to continuously participate, continuously return time and time again with the conviction that you can do it. Hesitating after the first attempt is not part of the rules of the game. You need extraordinary people with ferocious motivation, lots of experience and attention to details and unconditional dedication. The game is uncertain; for all you can dedicate, for all that you can motivate, and for all that you are willing to spend the victory is never guaranteed. For some it becomes a kind of drug. It is a game that you can come to deeply hate, to than discover that you can’t live without it at least not until you win. Then there’s the metamorphous (at least that is what happened to me). I was part of a crew that succeeded in winning the America’s Cup at least once and successfully defending it. I was finally free of the tightness in my mouth and in my stomach. I am paid. I am cured. I go to sleep at night and dream other dreams. New passion are being born inside of me. Just so that it is clear, competing for the America’s Cup is a game of passion, of dreams when in every waking moment (and while you are asleep) you have only one unique thought and that is winning but the victory is uncertain until you have it in your hands.
The delusion and the disappointment hurts even when the others are suffering, imagine trying it out on your own hide.
You keep asking yourself “how”? and “why”? For weeks until you find the determination to try again, to not repeat the same mistakes, to do it better than before, to be better that the rest of the world, to be the best and than the anxiety becomes dreams and passions all over again. The thought of winning never ever abandons you but it is better to leave it on the side and concentrate on a new objective: to be the best in every phase of the new challenge. Nothing is left alone, not even the smallest detail. But this doesn’t happen just because you want it to. You need a Team of exceptional people who share the same dream and the same passion and are not scared even when odds are against them. It’s the difficulty of the challenge that puts the adrenalin in your veins that may have been weakened by the previous defeat. The America’s Cup is what it is because it is so difficult to win. It is not a game for armchairs admirals. It is not a game for a person who is not prepared to come back. It is not a game for the faint hearted. It is a game for those who are not scared of pitting themselves against the best that the world has to offer. It’s a game where winning is almost impossible, almost, but not impossible. And this is why it is worth fighting for. It is the difficulty that gives any challenge some sense. This is the essence of life itself. To all the people in Team Prada who are telling their story in this book, I would like to say, I admire your sportsmanship, your tenacity and your enthusiasm for life. You have given all of us a really positive imagine of your country and your countrymen will be proud of you. This time you didn’t win but certainly didn’t lose. You only lose when you don’t have the courage to return. Not winning is part of the learning process which leads you to success. Because it is also a question of luck. It won’t be easy.
The best thing never are.
Peter Blake
Giulio Z. Thank you for sharing Sir Peter’s letter with us. I had not read this before. He was truly a great man. “You only lose when you don’t have the courage to return”. How emphatically true. Best regards, David G
Me again….Seems the gloves are now off. Bertarelli has called the Grant Dalton ‘ungrateful’. He does not want the nationality rules ETNZ has promoted – and that is understandable, given his current position with Alinghi.
Seems the Kwis in ValeNZia are getting passionate and maybe overstepping the bounds of decorum. According to Bertarelli, “The aggression toward our Kiwis, I mean it’s seven years now. Let it be. Let it go.”
I have never subscribed to the ‘traitor’ tag slapped on the Alinghi Kiwis. They are mercenaries, yes – but then if I had their talents, I’d be selling myself to the highest bidder as well. It is no different to other global sports. You have to go where the money is. And what is wrong with that? Cheers, David G
Really he was a great man.
Thanks to the LunaRossaFanClub, who put this letter in their home page.
Giulio
I’d take the money too, but I’d certainly say that was the reason. After all why would you blame them for that. But on the other side I also dont mined them giving them a bit of ribbing about it too.
I think Kiwis are great and throwing a bit of mud to help our team out (clearly it is helpping our team when Bertarelli is going on about it in interviews). After all mined games do count at this level; today I call them a traitor (only because it clearly upsets them) after the cup they can have NZ Citizenship back.
Guys and girls, did you go to the Sir Peter Blake’s memorial in the Domain? It was amazing. Torben Grael was there that day and so was I of course. Thanks for sharing that letter in this blog Giulio.
Other topic.
As much as I hated Coutts&Co. sailing for Alinghi, NZ should be proud of a comment the Dennis Conner made for the Seahorse magazine a couple of months ago: “We already know who’s going to win this AC, don’t we? It’s going to be a Kiwi; just a matter of which one.”
I hope there are some tighter nationality rules in the future but they must also be able to accommodate numbers of Kiwis that are more than capable sailors that could “work” for different teams. Remember this is a professional sport. And Coutts&Co. got paid what they are worth.
[...] Peter Blake’s letter to Luna Rossa - 2000 From http://www.lunarossafanclub.it – thanks Guilio Z for first posting. [...]
Good morning guys!!! Giulio, I have never met De Angelis, but I can tell you that at the end of LVC, during an interview, he told that ETNZ won just for luck…so, 5 – 0 can’t be just for luck! And I remember he was quite unpolite towards journalists…
Talking about kiwis in Alinghi team, this is a professional sport, and for someone money and power are better than feelings, so it is nothing strange in our wourld.
I don’t like this way ’cause I prefer people who put their felling first, and that don’t mind too much about power and money, especially in sport…but that’s our reality…
regards
Vale
In the interviews I heard, he (FDA) may have told that we were not “lucky” about some wind shifts and meteo calls, and that perhaps the wind strength we’ve found was not the one Luna Rossa expected and was optimized for. He didn’t (and nobody could) say ETNZ won without merit.
Maybe he tried to find himself a reason for the heavy defeat, it was not a cold analysis.
During the finals, he never said our boat was slower, because it would have destroyed the team’s self confidence.
And then I think it’s very hard to remain calm and polite toward Italian sport journalists, even for Francesco De Angelis, but I don’t want to justify him.
According to me the truth is that TNZ’s boat was a bit faster, all round, with a better upwind angle (that also explains some odd tactic errors we eventually made), and NZ crew sailed it perfectly.
I think Alinghi vs ETNZ will be a great final.
Bye
Giulio
Giulio, I admire your spirit, you are a real patriot! About Alinghi e ETNZ, I hope in the bad weather for the first days…just to postpone the regatta, so that I can see the race when I am in Valencia!!!!
Ciao
Vale