Team Luna Rossa beat Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team and K-Challenge in the fifth day of racing of Trapani Louis Vuitton Act 8.

On the “Romeo” course the first match kicks off at 12.50 p.m. under cloudy, choppy seas, rain filled skies and a shifty breeze from the south east at 16-18 knots. James Spithill enters from the starboard side forcing Flavio Favini into a long dial-up. Falling off onto port Luna Rossa gibes, hunting down Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team towards the lower right hand side of the box. ITA 74 continues to control her opponent as Favini attempts to free ITA 77 from Luna Rossa’s grip. Thirty seconds before the gun the two head back towards the start with Mascalzone keeping ITA 74 to windward. Pressed hard by Spithill, ITA 77 calls over the line early and is forced to restart. Luna Rossa crosses the line with an 8 boat length margin on Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team and at the top mark rounding ITA 74 leads by 42 seconds. Down the first run the spinnaker blows on Luna Rossa while she is leading by almost 300 meters; after changing sail the margin is reduced to 130 meters. ITA 74 steams downhill touching 16 knots in boat speed. Francesco de Angelis and his after guard choose to round the port mark at the leeward gate, followed by ITA 77 30 seconds later. The second beat begins with the winds having increased to 20 knots. James Spithill sails on the left hand side of the course with boat speed reaching 11 knots and a 250 meter lead on Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team. At the top mark Luna Rossa has increased her margin to 53 seconds and halfway down the run as the two cross, ITA 74 leads by 280 meters. Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team blows the kite, Luna Rossa continues to gain, finally winning the derby with a final delta of 2 minutes and 34 seconds

After an initial postponement due to severe thunderstorms the second match gets underway at 3.55 p.m, this time on the “Juliet” course. Late into the pre-start box, K-Challenge is shut out by Spithill and the French are awarded a penalty four and a half minutes before the start. The two helmsmen face off in a dial-up and as the gun fires both are far from the line, with ITA 74 in a controlling position. Minutes after the start Luna Rossa leads by five - six boat lengths and a third of the way up the beat K-Challenge is forced to retire. ITA 74 completes the two laps of the windward leeward course as the rules dictate, securing the second win of the day.

The weather for tomorrow calls for winds from the north west at 10-15 knots, cloudy skies.