Another Point For Luna Rossa

Another Point For Luna Rossa

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

OCTOBER 29, 2002

ANOTHER POINT FOR LUNA ROSSA

After the fourth delay in a row due to adverse weather conditions on the Hauraki Gulf, the Race Committee scheduled two races today on the short 12.5 mile course, Flights 3 and 4 of Round Robin Two.

The sun is shining on the Hauraki Gulf but the forecast is still calling for winds on the twenty knots range.

The match between Luna Rossa and Le Defi starts on perfect time at 10:40. Rod Davis, at the helm of ITA 74, takes the pin end of the line while Le Defi chooses the Committee Boat end.

The French get an eary lead over ITA 74 as they head towards the right side of the course to pick the first wind shift. Francesco de Angelis is able to close the gap towards the end of the first beat and manages to squeeze into the inside lane at the mark rounding. Le Defi, however, is 5 second ahead of Luna Rossa at the mark.

During the first spinnaker run, ITA 74 and FRA 69 sail on parallel tracks, with the French leading by one boat length. Towards the end of the leg, the Italians decide to cross to the left of the course and are able to close the gap. The second mark rounding is as close as the first, but this time it's ITA 74 that is leading by 7 seconds.

The wind on the race course oscillates between 13 and 17 knots. Luna Rossa consolidates her lead during the second and final beat, controlling each move of her opponent. ITA 74 rounds the last mark with a comfortable 38 second advantage over Le Defi.

Luna Rossa further consolidates her lead in the last leg and cuts the finish ahead of Le Defi by 1 minute and 4 seconds. Another point on the scoreboard for Team Prada.

Luna Rossa sustained damages to a winch and will not race her second match of today. The French boat Le defi Areva also sustained some damage to the top part of her mast during the first race preventing her from taking the start of her second race. As a result the matches scheduled for the afternoon between Luna Rossa and Alinghi and between Le Defi and GBR Challenge, part of Flight 4, have been postponed to a further date.

The remaining matches on schedule today: Oracle versus Stars & Stripes and Victory versus Mascalzone Latino should start shortly. The results of these matches will be posted in a second press release later in the day.

TODAY'S RESULTS

FLIGHT 3 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO - Off Oracle BMW Racing USA 76
Match 1 Luna Rossa ITA 74 wins against Le Defi FRA 69 (1' 04" lead)
Match 2 Alinghi SUI 64 wins against Mascalzone Latino ITA 72 (2' 11" lead)
Match 3 Orm SWE 73 wins against Stars & Stripes USA 66 (13" lead)
Match 4 OneWorld USA 67 wins against Wight Lightning GBR 70 (1' 05" lead)

FLIGHT 4 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO - Off OneWorld USA 67
Match 1 Oracle BMW Racing USA 76 against Stars & Stripes USA 66 (match to be sailed in the afternoon)
Match 2 Wight Lightning GBR 70 against Le Defi FRA 69 (match postponed due to technical problems)
Match 3 Alinghi SUI 64 against Luna Rossa ITA 74 (match postponed due to technical problems)
Match 4 Orm SWE 73 against Mascalzone Latino ITA 72 (match to be sailed in the afternoon)

TODAY'S CREW ON LUNA ROSSA

1. Bowman, Paolo Bassani
2. Mid bowman, Alberto Barovier
3. Mastman, Simone de Mari
4. Pitman, Cristian Griggio
5. Left grinder, Massimo Galli
6. Right grinder, Romolo Ranieri
7. Upwind trimmer, Lorenzo Mazza
8. Downwind trimmer, Andrew Hemmings
9. Mainsail trimmer, Sean Clarkson
10. Center grinder, Massimo Gherarducci
11. Helmsman, Francesco de Angelis
12. Tactician, Torben Grael
13. Afterguard, Rod Davis
14. Downwind grinder, Daniele Bresciano
15. Strategist, Michele Ivaldi
16. Navigator, Matteo Plazzi

RACE COURSE

Windward leeward course of 12.5 miles, four legs total, two windward legs and two downwind legs; first and last legs are 3.25 miles, the remaining two are 3.00 miles.

WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY

Wind from SW 15-20 knots. Mainly sunny, occasional showers.

CURRENT OVERALL STANDINGS AFTER FLIGHT THREE OF ROUND ROBIN TWO
1. Alinghi Swiss Challenge, 10 pts (10 wins out of 11 races)
1. OneWorld Challenge, 10 pts (10 wins out of 11 races) *
3. Prada Challenge, 7 pts (7 wins out of 11 races)
4. Oracle BMW Racing, 6 pts (6 wins out of 10 races)
5. GBR Challenge, 5 pts (5 wins out of 10 races)
5. Victory Challenge, 5 pts (5 wins out of 10 races)
7. Team Dennis Conner, 4 pts (4 wins out of 11 races)
8. Mascalzone Latino, 1 pt (1 win out of 11 races)
9. Le Defi Areva, 0 pts (0 wins out of 11 races)
* OneWorld will be penalised one point at the end of Round Robin Two.

CALENDAR FOR TOMORROW - OCTOBER 30

FLIGHT 5 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO - Off Le Defi FRA 69

Match 1 Mascalzone Latino ITA 72 versus Luna Rossa ITA 74
Match 2 Orm SWE 73 versus Oracle BMW Racing USA 76
Match 3 OneWorld USA 67 versus Stars & Stripes USA 66
Match 4 Wight Lightning GBR 70 versus Alinghi SUI 64

FLIGHT 6 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO - Off Alinghi SUI 64

Match 1 Mascalzone Latino ITA 72 versus Wight Lightning GBR 70
Match 2 Luna Rossa ITA 74 versus Orm SWE 73
Match 3 OneWorld USA 67 versus Oracle BMW Racing USA 76
Match 4 Stars & Stripes USA 66 versus Le Defi FRA 69

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TOMORROW

Wind from NW 14-17 knots. Mostly cloudy, showers.

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