Coutts drops a race

The Swiss boat led around the race course by Peter Gilmour and OneWorld

Prada falls to Team Dennis Conner

The Race Committee started the race between Luna Rossa ITA 74 and Stars & Stripes USA 66, with Ken Read at the helm at 12:15.

Luna Rossa, helmed by Rod Davis during the start, cuts the starting line near the committee boat, forcing USA 66 to tack and take a leeward berth. After a windward leg on parallel tacks, Stars & Stripes rounded the first mark ahead by 32 seconds. During the first downwind leg Luna Rossa could not close the gap and rounded the leeward mark 43 seconds astern. After the second beat USA 66 was still leading by 51 seconds.

During the second downwind leg Luna Rossa managed to close the gap a little bit, gaining 6 seconds at the leeward mark, leaving the Americans with a 45 second lead.

At the end of the third and last beat, the advantage of USA 66 had grown to 54 seconds. In the final leg under spinnaker, Francesco de Angelis gained on Stars & Stripes but not enough to close the gap accumulated over five legs.

USA 66 won the race by 35 seconds from Luna Rossa.

17th man on Luna Rossa today was Roberto Mazzeschi, a sailing enthusiast from Arezzo who works as a consultant in the automotive industry. Mazzeschi is a close friend and racing companion of Patrizio Bertelli. He sailed as 17th man on board Luna Rossa in the second Round d Robin of the last Louis Vuitton Cup.

Today's crew on Luna Rossa
1. Bowman Paolo Bassani
2. Mid bowman Massimiliano Sirena
3. Mastman Simone de Mari
4. Pitman Cristian Griggio
5. Left grinder Massimo Galli
6. Right grinder Nicolas Texier
7. Upwind trimmer Lorenzo Mazza
8. Downwind trimmer Andrew Hemmings
9. Mainsail trimmer Sean Clarkson
10. Center grinder Romolo Ranieri
11. Helmsman Francesco de Angelis
12. Tactician Torben Grael
13. Afterguard Rod Davis
14. Downwind grinder Daniele Bresciano
15. Strategist Michele Ivaldi
16. Navigator Matteo Plazzi
17. 17th Man Roberto Mazzeschi