Patrizio Bertelli, the last myth of the Copa América
Burling-Spithill: Most Merciless Helmsman Combat in 170 Years
Team New Zealand's
AC75 'Te Rehutai'
, with
Peter Burling
at the helm, this Wednesday added its seventh and final partial victory against
Italian
Luna Rossa
in the final of the
36th America's Cup
(7-3) and managed to retain the trophy in Auckland waters (New Zealand).
The kiwi union raised the Hundred Guineas Jug for the fourth time in its history, the second as a defender, and reinforces a hegemony in the regatta that lasts 26 years: since 1995 it has contested the final in five of the six editions held (a judge prevented from participating in the challenges in Valencia in 2010).
Welcome to the
All Blacks
dictatorship of
sailing.
The New Zealand team won the last round by
46 seconds
apart on a day in which they had to wait 30 minutes for the wind to stabilize at around 10 knots of intensity.
Luna Rossa, with no room for mistakes to stay alive, won the start by just one length and began a fast-paced war of tacking.
However, it was enough for Team New Zealand that extra top speed from their boat to finish the first stage with a 7-second advantage.
A breath behind him,
James Spithill was
wearing the hunting outfit.
It was at the end of the second section, the first downwind, when the Kiwis passed judgment.
The
Luna Rossa in the maneuver failed to put its bow upwind
and speed ebbed considerably, giving wings to the Team New Zealand.
As happened in the last rounds, Italy paid dearly for the mistake.
Without feeling the opponent's breath on his neck, the AC75 'Te Rehutai' widened the gap by about 10 seconds per section to the finish line.
The 36th America's Cup thus came to an end.
Bertelli equals the 'Best loser in the world'
The Luna Rossa was a
worthy
Challenger
.
He fell with all honors, putting up more battle than most anyone predicted, but he ended up kissing the canvas.
With his fifth unsuccessful campaign in 24 years,
Patrizio Bertelli
, head of the Italian union and CEO of Grupo Prada, equals the legendary
Sir Thomas Lipton
, considered the best loser in the world after being defeated five times between 1899 and 1930. But Bertarelli is far behind throw in the towel.
His employer,
Max Sirena
, was blunt: "We will come back stronger."
Italy continues to dream of being the fifth country to win the title after the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.
A partial of 5 to 0
During the first six rounds of the 36th Copa América there was an exchange of blows with an unalterable script: a boat that entered the pre-exit box from port side, a boat that ended up winning a duel whose emotion was extinguished in the best of cases in the first of the six sections of the route.
Although it left memorable moments, it was the marmot regatta.
Until Team New Zealand said enough.
He added his third victory in the sixth set to put the 3-3 on the scoreboard and from then on he linked another four consecutive wins
to close the game with a 7 to 3 in his favor.
It was as if Burling had shouldered
the responsibility of the nation that vibrates the most with sailing
, where children play with bicycles and sailboats in equal measure.
Like Peter Burling, who at the age of nine began sailing the Hauraki Gulf aboard an old wooden Optimist and at 30 has flown on the fastest sailboat ever conceived.
New Zealand has featured a dozen teams in the America's Cup since 1986, all featuring superb sailors and innovative boats, and has managed to clinch the silver ewer four times.
It will be difficult to find a challenge capable of knocking down this
Defender
.
Special mention should be made of Peter Burling and James Spithill, undoubtedly
the best helmsmen in
match racing
with flying boats
, who have fought an extraordinary battle.
The New Zealander reclaimed the Cup in 2017 and has now led his team in defending the silver ewer;
two Pitchers raised at just 30 years old, two victories in the final with the same victim, James Spithill, who in 2017 was at the helm of Oracle.
The legend of the Tauranga navigator has done nothing but cast off and is already overwhelming.
For his part, the Australian, who like Burling has won the trophy twice, has been Italy's great hope.
There is no other helmsman as combative on boat versus boat and his talents kept Luna Rossa in competition longer than expected.
The
new AC75 boats
have proven that they are the way to go.
They have shown insane speed and have shown that they are capable of delivering match racing to dog-face duels.
Tinkering will certainly be necessary to ensure more equality between the boats, but the base is well established.
Despite the sailing revolution, there are axioms in the America's Cup that do not change: the fastest boat always wins (although the speed record of an AC75 was set by the American Magic at 53.31 knots during the Prada Cup);
follows the curse of the
Challenger of Record
or first challenger, who has never managed to win the trophy and, finally, the strength of the
Defender
, who in 170 years has only been defeated seven times
Ineos Team UK, the first challenge of the 37th Copa América
As soon as Team New Zealand's victory was consummated, another of the regatta's rituals began: the birth of the next edition.
At the end of this chronicle there was no official confirmation, but the local media assumed that
Ben Ainslie's
Ineos Team UK
will be the
Challenger of Record
for the 37th America's Cup.
The presence in Auckland of the Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the club representing the British team, was more than a clue.
The English should not be superstitious, or at least Ainslie does not seem to be, since the curse of the United Kingdom (170 years without being able to recover the trophy) can be added that of the first challenger, the team that agrees an edition with the
Defender
and that on paper it is an advantage in technology warfare.
The first document signatures are little more than a declaration of intent and rumors abound about how and when the next edition will be.
There is uncertainty even where it will be held, since it is not ruled out that the America's Cup, or at least a part of it, will be held far from New Zealand.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardem, however, was quick to make it clear that she wants the Cup in her country in 2023, so the buzz about the trophy exodus is expected to fade soon.
Yes, it will be about attracting more teams, so budgets must be lightened and a world circuit should be organized prior to the battle of the challenges.
Will the New York Yacht Club repeat?
Will Ernesto Bertarelli try again with Alinghi?
Will the AC75s be confirmed?
For now, the only thing clear is that
Team New Zeland is still in command
.
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