After a very informative press conference yesterday afternoon setting the agenda for the Semi Final phase, racing of the Semi Final round of the LV Challenger Series kicks off today. The groups and race order are defined, and the course entry side of each boat is assigned.
In a best-of-five series, the two groups will start racing just after 2pm Barcelona time.
First up (and each day the same order) Luna Rossa Prada Prielli will face NYYCN American Magic. This will be a good pairing, two teams that, on a good day, will fight a good battle. There is the risk, based on previous racing, that Luna Rossa simply runs away with it, I hope not as we need an exciting semi-finals round to keep the interest at the levels we have had for the Premilinary Regatta and Round Robin phase of this regatta.
In the second race, by the choice of Ben Ainslie as the skipper of the wining team of the Round Robin phase, INEOS Britannia will meet Alinghi. This is a challenge between the round, robin top-of-the-table and bottom-of-the-table teams, and while on paper it looks like INEOS should romp home-this is the America’s Cup, and absolutely nothing is predictable!
Jimmy Spithill, skipper of Luna Rossa, has chosen to enter the court in race 1, from the Port side of the course.
Alinghi will enter the race course from the Port in the second race.
