Naples hosts the preliminary regattas of the America's Cup 38: Luna Rossa in the lead, French surprises

Naples today was alive, dazzling, perfect to welcome the preliminary regattas of the America's Cup number 38. It can be described as a city "overlooking" the Gulf. Because there weren't just many people in boats at sea acting as spectators. All the houses, the terraces of the city of Posillipo, of the Riviera, in short wherever there is a sea view there was an audience.

Ask the Sun

In-depth questions generated by 24Ore AI

Questions are automatically suggested by 24Ore AI

based on the content displayed.

At home the television with the news, and in the window the great sun and the wind of up to 18 knots from the Gulf which was nothing short of perfect for the day in which four regattas were to be held. Let's say right away that Luna Rossa made a great impression by maintaining the lead of the standings with a margin of eight points over Emirates Team New Zealand. Let's remember that at the controls of Luna Rossa there is the barefoot devil Peter Burling and on New Zealand the man who has taken his place in the hearts of the public and at the helm of the Kiwi boat Nathan Outteridge.

Tomorrow's final clash between Luna and the Kiwis, which seems highly probable, also has the flavor of a derby. Burling and co-helmsman Marco Gradoni demonstrated a great ability to put on a show. In the four races they suffered penalties, they ended up at the back of the fleet but then "miraculously", in reality with their speed, they always climbed back to the top positions. "It was a day of alternating current. After the victory of the first regatta we had to fight – said Peter Burling – The regatta field doesn't always have a constant wind and you have to know how to interpret it". Patrizio Bertelli can be happy as he arrived in Naples precisely to watch the regattas with a trip to the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia, the club that launched the challenge and one of the beating hearts of this edition of the Cup together with the nearby "enemy friends" of the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia.

If Luna Rossa has accustomed us to certainties, like the New Zealanders, the surprises of the day were the French of La Roche Posay, authors of two victories and a spectacular somersault when they were in the lead. Without that turnaround they would be third, one point behind the Kiwis with three wins on the day. Even yesterday at the start they capsized and did not finish a race. The French team, supported by Stephan Kandler and led by Bruno Dubois, begins to become dangerous. The sporting director is Philippe Presti, former coach of Luna Rossa. The helmsmen are Quentin Delapierre and Guido Botin who bears an important surname in the world of sailing. The uncle is called Marcelino Botin and he worked a lot in the America's Cup, also with the New Zealanders. On the sidelines, it can be said that the Botins are one of the richest families in Spain, linked to Banco Santander. Delapierre says: "These boats are really very close in performance and strategy and tactics count a lot. You have to be very careful in driving the boat, very concentrated." The French team is the first to have brought the large AC75 boat to Naples: it was unloaded in recent days and is the first hull to have entered Bagnoli.

The Swiss Tudor Alinghi are also solid, the provisional ranking sees them in third place ahead of the Luna Rossa Woman & Youth team.