Naples was ready for the opening chapter of its America’s Cup preliminary regatta, but the Gulf offered too little wind to let the competition settle into a proper first afternoon. Luna Rossa had entered two crews, yet the programme was repeatedly delayed and the only attempted race could not be completed.
The decision
Three fleet races had been scheduled for Friday, with starts initially set for 14:10, 14:46 and 15:27. Instead, the race committee spent much of the afternoon waiting for the breeze to reach the minimum 7.5-knot requirement.
There were brief signs of improvement. At one stage, wind readings rose to between eight and 11 knots, allowing the boats to prepare for a start. But the conditions did not hold. Earlier in the afternoon, one race attempt was called off when the wind suddenly faded.
A further start was eventually made shortly after 16:05. Luna Rossa’s senior boat began well and was running second, close to the leaders, while the Women & Young crew had a less favourable opening. Emirates Team New Zealand initially held the lead, but the breeze weakened again around the windward mark.
With the boats unable to remain on their foils, the race was stopped. The wind near the top mark was measured at around four knots, insufficient for racing. The committee confirmed that there was no fixed cut-off time for starting races, with the priority being to complete at least one contest and then consider whether any postponed action could be recovered over the following two days.
The interruption was a contrast to Thursday’s official test session, when all nine boats had found light but workable air to assess their rivals. From the water, the foiling boats can reach 50 knots, or just over 92 kilometres per hour, but Friday’s breeze never gave them the platform required to show that speed in competition.
Sunday’s picture
Luna Rossa are competing with their established senior team and a Women & Young crew, making two Italian entries among nine boats. Their opposition includes senior and Women & Young teams from Emirates Team New Zealand and GB1, plus senior crews from Tudor Alinghi of Switzerland, La Roche-Posay of France and American Racing Challenger of the United States.
The regatta is being staged in the Gulf of Naples as a prelude to the America’s Cup, which is due to arrive in the city next May. Luna Rossa return to the water after their May success in Cagliari, while Naples has turned its seafront into an event setting around Via Caracciolo and the Villa Comunale gardens. The teams were also due to be presented on the main stage, which will host Colors at the close of the day.
Another three fleet races are planned for Saturday. Sunday’s schedule contains two more fleet races, followed by a match race between the top two teams in the standings. For now, though, the first task is simpler: finding enough steady wind for the regatta to begin in earnest.
