The Luna Rossa sailing team celebrated this past weekend after clinching the trophy for Act 5 of the Louis Vuitton race.
The Swedish team had actually won the race but, due to a technical protest, they were disqualified. On a routine inspection after the fourth race, a measurer found an unusually large amount of water in the Swedish team’s boat, which is an infringement of an ACC Class Rule. The Race Committee was forced to disqualify the team.
The Italian team, however, did not just win because of this disqualification, and does deserve merit for their victory.
They had sailed a strong regatta and were only shortly behind the Swedish team.
The final victory was not declared until hours after the race was over, and the Italian team was then presented with a Mariscal design trophy at the America’s Cup Park in Valencia.
Former Italian Prime Minister, Massimo D’Alema, was also in a festive mood after he had been invited aboard the Luna Rossa as 18th crew member.
Acts 6 and 7 of the Cup will be held in the waters off Malmö-Skåne, Sweden on August 25th.
