Alinghi out

Going into the semi-finals at the Heat-La Sfida match racing in Trieste

For the second day in a row Team Alinghi were beaten by Luna Rossa and are now out of the semifinals.

The last and decisive match saw very gusty winds and proved to be a tough testing ground for the crews. After a nerve wracking pre-start, Alinghi was first crossing the line, sailed to the left hand side and rounded the first windward mark in the lead. Luna Rossa 1 began a spectacular chase, soaking up the margin and at the end of the first run, Alinghi fouled a gybe, losing considerable speed. Spithill won the race and his place in the semifinals.

Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team won the qualifying round robin through the application of the rule that solves the draw between the four teams.

Qualifying Flights Final Scoreboard (matches won/matches raced)

1 Mascalzone Latino (Jes Gram-Hansen) 3/5
2 + 39 Challenge (Percy) 3/5
3 Luna Rossa 2 (De Angelis) 3/5
4 Luna Rossa 1 (Spithill) 3/5
5 Alinghi (Holmberg) 3/5 eliminated
6 Shosholoza (Law) 0/5 eliminated

The first match of the semifinals took place this afternoon, pitting +39 against Luna Rossa 2. Winds were shifty and fickle, changing in intensity and direction. Francesco de Angelis won the start, beating Percy who was awarded a penalty. Luna Rossa 2 took the lead and perfectly weaved her way up the course sailing in the light breeze of the Gulf of Trieste. This margin +39 was never able to close allowing Francesco de Angelis to win the race with a fair advantage over Percy.

The remaining semifinal matches are scheduled to begin tomorrow at 11am + 39 (Percy) squares off against Luna Rossa 2 (de Angelis) and Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (Gram Hansen) faces Luna Rossa 1 (Spithill). The formula “best of three” determines who moves up t o the finals.

Staring this year the organizers of The Heat-La Sfida, in collaboration with the monthly Italian sailing magazine Fare Vela have instituted a special prize dedicated to the memory of Pasquale Landolfi, a world re-known blue water yachtsman who passed away recently.

The trophy is awarded to the helmsman who during the qualifying round robins, was first in rounding the first windward buoy the most times.

This year the prize goes to Francesco de Angelis, who 4 times out 5 was first at the top mark. The trophy will be handed over on Sunday September 11th before the closing award ceremony.

The Heat-La Sfida is organised by the consortium TuttaTrieste and supported by the Yacht Club Adriaco, the Lega Navale italiana, the San Giusto Yacht Club, the Società Triestina della Vela and by the Società Triestina Sport del Mare. 'The Heat' has been made possible thanks to the contributions of the main sponsor Generali and the official partners Acegas Aps and Banca Popolare Friuladria.