The choice of the Bay of Naples as the venue for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup was fully vindicated today on day two of the Preliminary Regatta with some of the best fleet racing ever seen in the modern history of this outstanding sporting event. It was tricky, tight, and all action on a day that saw four fleet races completed, keeping the schedule right back on track ahead of the final day on Sunday.
A packed Race Village down on the Lungomare Carraciolo was treated to a spectacle that exceeded any in world sailing this year. The Naples city backdrop was spectacular, whilst on the water, it was fireworks from the fastest sailors in the world with near-misses, a capsize, and thrilling close-quarters action.
From the outset, Luna Rossa 1 – the Principal Team led by skipper Peter Burling alongside co-helm Marco Gradoni – streaked into a lead and never looked back. The overnight overall leaders were punching speeds in excess of 47 knots on the bear-away manoeuvres at the windward gate in winds that neared the upper limit of 21 knots at times. It was a powerful opening performance from the Italian team, and the question on everyone’s lips shoreside was: “who can match them?”
The answer emerged in the second, third, and fourth races of the day as La Roche-Posay Racing Team, with world-class sailors Quentin Delapierre and Diego Botín, came to the fore, showcasing a turn of pace they had been promising all week. In Race 4, the French team surged ahead of a tightly packed fleet at the first windward gate after a stellar start, leading around every mark of the course. Quite simply, it was sensational sailing, and while they took the winning gun, a new force in the regatta emerged in the form of Emirates Team New Zealand.
The Defenders of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup were tied on points for second place overall and knew that Saturday was crucial. After a forgettable opening race, Race 4 saw them fight through to second, solidifying their position in the crucial top two. Once eight races are completed on Sunday, the scores will be tallied, and the top two boats will advance to the winner-takes-all Match Race final.
Race 5 introduced drama to the Preliminary Regatta in another super-tight race where even seasoned observers struggled to pick the pecking order at the first windward gate. Again, La Roche-Posay Racing Team out-thought the competition and, with perfect positioning, bore away at the port marker gate, leaping into the lead as others fell off the foils, infringed in the boundary zone, and came close to contact. Fortunately, no harm was done, but penalties ensued from Chief Umpire Richard Slater, shuffling the pack.
Upfront, La Roche-Posay Racing Team could pick their lanes and ease around the course, stretching into an impressive lead that reached 300 metres after two laps of the 1.4 nautical mile legged course. At the final windward gate, the French were ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand’s Women & Youth team, led by Jake Pye with Erica Dawson on co-helm, looking set for a second win of the day.
However, in a cruel twist, on the final gybe onto the layline to the finish, a powerful gust of wind caused La Roche-Posay Racing Team to ride impossibly high on the foils, leading to a slow capsize. Audio onboard captured the team’s frustration as the fleet sped past at over 40 knots.
The Kiwis capitalised on the situation, keeping calm, gybing inside the French and acing the final layline to secure a popular win, setting a marker for what promises to be two magnificent events in 2027 – the Women’s America’s Cup and the Youth America’s Cup. Behind the Kiwis, Luna Rossa 1 overtook Emirates Team New Zealand (Principal Team) on the final downwind, scoring a vital second place to further cement their position at the top of the standings.
In the final race of the day, Race 6, all eyes were on La Roche-Posay Racing Team to see if the capsize had affected their confidence. They responded emphatically, starting brilliantly and establishing a small lead by the windward mark. Emirates Team New Zealand gave chase with GB1, the Challenger of Record, close behind.
The tussle between the French and Kiwis was tactical and intense, particularly as the breeze started to falter in the middle of the course. At roundings, the lead swung towards Emirates Team New Zealand, but a perfect final windward leg saw Delapierre and Botín read the breeze supremely, enabling the French to bear away at the final gate into an unassailable lead of over 250 metres. The Kiwis could only consolidate their second place, while Luna Rossa emerged from an intense pack.
The French took the win comfortably, while the Kiwis secured their place in the standings, leaving Luna Rossa at the very top. After a busy day of racing, skipper Peter Burling reflected on the variables they faced, acknowledging mistakes but appreciating their ability to reset and seize opportunities.
Margherita Porro, skipper of Luna Rossa 2, took positives from a challenging day, highlighting the tight racing and the need for their new team to connect all points. Winners of the second race of the day, skipper Jake Pye and trimmer Serena Woodall expressed satisfaction with their performance, emphasising teamwork and seizing opportunities.
Diego Botín shared optimism about their team’s performance, while Jason Saunders reflected on the fun of sailing in great conditions. Ellie Aldridge, co-helm on GB2, noted frustrations but acknowledged the learning opportunities presented by the day.
As the sun sets, the scorecard suggests a possible rematch of the first Preliminary Regatta in Sardinia, where Luna Rossa’s Principal Team and Emirates Team New Zealand battled for the overall crown. Two final races tomorrow will decide the top two boats for the Match Race final. Stay tuned as Naples serves up a festival of sailing at the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta.
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