ACWS Naples - SUPER SUNDAY
After nine successful America’s Cup World Series events, the revolutionary concept which has changed the landscape of sailing, concluded Sunday afternoon in Naples.
Nowhere has this been more evident than here in Naples, with close to one million spectators out to watch the nine teams battle it out on Super Sunday.
ORACLE Racing – Slingsby, with Australian Tom Slingsby at the helm, dominated the event and swiftly defeated Luna Rossa Swordfish in the match race finals, giving evidence that the future of sailing truly is in the hands of the young, up and coming sailors.
Going in to Sunday's fleet racing, it could have been anyone’s event, with 40 points up for grabs for the winning team. Competition was intense with lighter air and shifty conditions on the Bay of Naples.
It was the hometown favourites on Luna Rossa Swordfish who took the bullet giving Francesco Bruni’s team the overall win for the fleet racing element of the ACWS Naples. In second place, was ORACLE Racing – Slingsby followed by Luna Rossa Piranha.
Swedish helmsman Charlie Ekberg, the newcomer to this ultra-professional fleet, executed an excellent start to plan, but a slow gybe at the first reach mark and a misgauged call on the second upwind meant the team didn’t quite achieve the results they had hoped for. It’s been a steady week of improvement for the team however, despite the overall finish in seventh position.
It’s been a once in a lifetime experience for young Swedish helmsman Charlie Ekberg who has his sights firmly set on the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in September.
The Artemis Racing team wore black arm bands today, in honour of Swedish America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veteran Magnus Olsson who passed away yesterday and was an inspiration to us all.
