Persistence & Damnation

It's over. There is no sign that Luna Rossa can overcome their bad habits and reverse the trend that they are in.

One very clear trait of the team is their persistence. That persistence has led them to work up some minor miracles in the shed and dogged work on the water.

However, this persistence is a drawback when they get stuck in bad habits.

Yesterday's first race saw Luna Rossa enter on starboard, which should have given them an advantage. Yet this was not exploited and oneWorld, at the risk of being slower off the start line acted in such a way as to obtain the right-hand side of the course. The two boats were within a boat's length all the way until a right-hand shift gave oneWorld its advantage for rounding the marker. Downwind, Luna Rossa insisted on using a gennaker, even though there were 18-19 knots of wind. This enamourment with their technological development definitively cost them the race when they had rounded the leewind marker with 17 seconds delay. Actually, in sports, there are defining moments: those 17 seconds signalled the end for Luna Rossa in this competition.

In yesterday's second race, oneWolrd has the pre-start favoured position. Rod Davis managed to save the day and have a nearly even start; still oneWorld was on the right. Luna Rossa was again in a tight situation. However, 2/3 of the distance towards the marker and they saw an area of greater pressure in front of oneWorld; they gybed, hoping oneWorld would do the same to try to cover its 1-2 boat-length lead. They were only a boat length's behind: why steer away from the stronger wind and risk leaving it to oneWorld alone? Luna Rossa strategies are not unlimited: if they cannot command a lead at the first marker, they have to stay close to be able to pass on the leeward leg. This is match racing and it means one boat is matched against another. From there it was all downhill, including a dropped gennaker in the water.

There is talk of having Gavin Brady replace Rod Davis for the starting phase. While this puts someone who has not had direct experience in the past weeks in that spot, it is a change. But it will not be of much use if the team's tactics do not consider ajustements.