The official press conference for the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals saw Inoeos Britannia choose to go up against Alinghi Red Bull Racing for the semi final races. Alinghi Red Bull Racing skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis was happy with the decision and keen to focus on beating Ineos in the semi finals.
The semi final races commenced on the 14th of September with racing set to continue for the next couple days. Currently Ineos Britannia hold a lead over Alinghi Red Bull Racing in Group 2 with Group 1’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team leading against their opponent NYYC American Magic.
It was a mix of factors that influenced Sir Ben Ainslie and the Ineos Britannia team’s choice for their competitor in the semi finals with Ainslie saying “We’re all on this development curve and it’s trying to figure out what’s going to get you further in this competition and also keep developing and ultimately you’ve just got to make a decision and get on with it”.
The press conference then moved on to focus on the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team who had looked strongest before losing out in the Round Robin to Ineos Britannia for the opportunity to choose their semi final opponent.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team. Image: Ricardo Pinto
Asked how he felt about losing out to Ineos Britannia, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team helmsman Jimmy Spithill summarised that, “The goal for all teams here was to make the semi finals, none of us wanted to be the team going home so it really was to achieve that first step and goal and really learn as much we could from those round robins and the prelim regatta as well”.
Speaking further on their opponent for the semi finals, NYYC American Magic, Spithill continued saying, “I see two very evenly matched teams, it’s actually a very exciting prospect to go up against Tommy and the American team, we have a lot of respect for them and it’ll be one hell of a match”.
NYYC American Magic and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team. Image: Ricardo Pinto
Questions then moved over to the floor with Spithill asked his opinions on the limited hardware choices for the boats in comparison to previous Cups and how much development was still possible past declaration.
“There are fewer hardware choices in this Cup, but at the same time the level of complication in this boat in terms of how you operate the hardware you can very much change day to day and live out on the water. There is still a heap of development you can do on these boats in these late stages and there’s no doubt in my mind that all these teams will be doing that” Spithill said.
The question was then put out to the panel on their opinion about the skill of the sailors and the team taking a primary spot over just being the fastest boat out on the water to win races.
Ainslie responded “I think what you’re seeing is the second generation in this class of boat and the performances are getting tighter and tighter as the teams are getting more time on the water and therefore getting better at sailing the boats”.
Ineos Britannia and Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Image: Ian Roman
He then continued, “The other thing is the location, Barcelona is interchangeable with 18 knots and relatively flat water and then the next day six knots of wind and quite big waves so it’s a really big challenge and it ultimately will come down to sailing skill and it’s only going to get tighter”.
Tom Slingsby also clarified as much as he could on the possibility of American Magic co-helmsman Paul Goodison getting back out on the water racing with the team again after he injured himself falling into an open hatch aboard Patriot after racing.
“We’re hopeful that he will be joining us again, we’ve made sure that it’s a possibility on that side of things but obviously it’s a tough one, he really wants to be out there with us but he’s not able to at the moment and it’s just going to be assessing how quickly he can feel ready to come back and join us” Slingsby concluded.
Arnaud Psarofaghis, Ben Ainslie, Jimmy Spithill and Tom Slingsby at the LV Cup Semi-final Press Conference. Image: Ricardo Pinto
From the conclusion of the third day of semi-final racing both groups are at a score of 4-1 with the leaders Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team and Ineos Britannia respectively. Day four of racing could see them both wrap up their respective finals if they can gain back some of their momentum from their previous four point lead.
However, with Both Alinghi Red Bull Racing and NYYC American Magic keen to stay in the running we could be seeing some intense match racing in the last couple days of racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final.
Catch up with the teams and their post-race day three interviews here.
