Having gone from one extreme to the other, after waiting for hours without wind, well after 5pm in Barcelona we suddenly we have wind — almost too much!
The race committee had initially delayed the start, hoping the conditions would calm. However, with the wind tests passed, the green light was given for the opening race of the series, much to the relief of the teams who had been waiting for their chance to get on the water. The Italians, led by helmsman Marco Gradoni, made their mark early in the race, accelerating smoothly after the start and benefiting from a left-hand breeze that carried them to an early lead. Although the AC40s were all overpowered with their large J1 jibs, Luna Rossa managed to handle the conditions better than their rivals, thanks to sharp trimming and flawless teamwork.
“We hooked into a big lefty and found some excellent breeze on the left-hand side of the course, which really helped us stretch our lead,” said the Luna Rossa skipper after the race. Despite a brief touchdown that could have jeopardised their lead, the Italians recovered swiftly, maintaining control and speed throughout.
As the race unfolded, it became clear that Luna Rossa was in a class of their own, completing the six legs of the race with precision. However, with American Magic and Athena Pathways Great Britain chasing hard, the competition for second place was far from settled. Both teams showcased strong performances, particularly American Magic, whose clean mark rounding and aggressive tactics kept them in the race, despite trailing the Italians by 48 seconds at one point.
Emirates Team New Zealand struggled after an off-the-pace start, but made a remarkable recovery mid-race. They climbed from fourth to third, finishing behind American Magic after a series of well-executed manoeuvres and smart positioning on the downwind legs. “The team showed resilience and adapted to the tough conditions, which was key to moving up the leaderboard,” said their skipper after the race.
Athena Pathways Great Britain, who had initially been well placed, suffered a costly penalty at the start and a significant splashdown during a tack. These mistakes dropped them down the standings, though they managed to salvage their race with a respectable finish.
Mid-race Orient Express was disqualified. The French team was penalised for sailing outside the course boundary by over 85 metres. This violation saw them earn zero points for the race, a major blow to their overall campaign. “It’s disappointing for the French team, as they were showing good form in the early stages,” remarked one of the commentators.
The challenging conditions, with wind speeds increasing to 15-16 knots, pushed all the crews to their limits. Many teams were forced to deal with dramatic touchdowns and wave impacts, particularly on the upwind legs. The sea state made it difficult for crews to maintain balance and control, especially with the oversized sails. “Sailing these boats in these conditions is like riding a roller coaster – you have to push hard, but one mistake can cost you the race,” commented an on-board crew member from Luna Rossa.
As the Italian team crossed the finish line to secure the first 10 points of the series, it was clear that their strong teamwork, great tactics, and ability to recover from mistakes had paid off today with a very well-deserved win!
With seven races to go, and points awarded for every race, the competition remains wide open.
