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Luna
Rossa may be back in the Cup (04/29/03)
(source
: Yahoo.it)
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Disappointed by Prada's loss in December to American
syndicate OneWorld in the Louis Vuitton Cup, Patrizio
Bertelli said he would not mount another challenge.
Rumors began to fly around that Alinghi's 2007 America's
Cup defence in Europe have finally encouraged the
syndicate head of the former challenger champion to
resume Italian's assault on the Auld Mug.
According to the Italian press, Luna Rossa Campaign
should become a consortium-directed activity, rather
than a program under the Prada single umbrella and
the activities should be directed by Francesco de
Angelis.
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Prada
won't mount another challenge (02/24/03)
(source
: FoxSports)
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It appears the moon has set for Prada's Luna Rossa
boats after six years of America's Cup competition.
Patrizio Bertelli, the syndicate head of the former
challenger champion, was quoted by Italy's largest sports
daily Gazzetta dello Sport Sunday as saying he would
not mount another challenge.
"This adventure is finished," Bertelli said, according
to Gazzetta , of Luna Rossa (Italian for "red moon").
Bertelli spent more than US$120 million on his two America's
Cup campaigns and was disappointed by Prada's loss in
December to American syndicate OneWorld in the challenger
series in New Zealand. In 2000, Prada won the series
but was swept in the finals by New Zealand.
As for the two boats, Bertelli told the paper from New
Zealand that they will stay there for now. "I could
sell them," he said. "I've already had requests, even
from Italy." |
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Prada
replies to embarrassing accusations (02/18/03)
(source
: Scuttlebutteurope.com)
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Prada Challenge has strongly rejected suggestions
it sailed against Team New Zealand three days after
the Louis Vuitton Cup concluded.
Last week, Chris Dickson and Oracle’s rules advisor
Tom Ehman has opened a new scandal by witnessing Prada
shadow boxing with the Kiwis, in a flagrant breach of
a signed mutual understanding that the challengers would
not in any way assist the defenders. Alinghi’s pitman
Josh Belsky confirmed the rumour.
It's said Bertelli is anxious that the Cup doesn’t go
to Europe as there have been tentative approaches made
by up to four Italian syndicates and that the ‘Prada’
syndicate wouldn’t be able to compete in the exposure
stakes.
Alessandra Ghezzi, Prada's Press Officer, said today
that it was difficult to accept that any of the allegations
might be true.
"Prada did not engage in any testing and/or racing
with any other team since its elimination from the Louis
Vuitton Cup", she said.
Who is a liar, who tells the truth? |
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Ruthless
self-interest out on the Gulf (02/13/03)
(source
: Yachts
& Yachting)
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One of the most interesting parts of unveiling
day was the muted rumblings from the Alinghi camp that
the Challenger of Record Prada syndicate was seen to
be racing against Team New Zealand, in a flagrant breach
of a signed mutual understanding that the challengers
would not in any way assist the defenders.
This is not the first time this has happened in the
America’s Cup as in 2000 Team New Zealand lined up against
the Nippon Challenge and all hell broke loose with Prada’s
boss Patrizio Bertelli bitterly complaining to the then
challenger of record, the New York Yacht Club.
Moves were taken to stop this happening in 2003 as Prada
took the reigns of the challengers but just three days
after the Louis Vuitton Cup concluded, the Oracle camp
witnessed Prada shadow boxing with the Kiwis.
Chris Dickson happily leant his name to the claim whilst
Oracle’s rules advisor Tom Ehman also added weight to
one of the more significant moves in the Cup so far.
Yesterday at the unveiling ceremony, Alinghi’s pitman
Josh Belsky again confirmed the rumour and if it’s true
then what could be the motives behind the Italians breaching
their own rule?
Ruthless self-interest is at the heart of the matter.
Bertelli is anxious that the Cup doesn’t go to Europe
as there have been tentative approaches made by up to
four Italian syndicates and that the ‘Prada’ syndicate
wouldn’t be able to compete in the exposure stakes.
Prada had it pretty easy in the 2000 Cup but in 2003,
they were well off the pace and out-manoeuvred by the
Latin Rascals of Mascalzone Latino. Vincenzo Onorato’s
team from the Island of Elba were taken dearly to the
Kiwi public’s heart and Prada were forced to up their
PR effort both in Auckland and at home to get any kind
of positive reaction.
Prada’s starting helmsman, Kiwi Rod Davis has also joined
the Team New Zealand camp and one can’t help but think
that there’s something very fishy going on between Prada
and TNZ. Presumably Davis is out of contract with the
Italians now and is entitled to sail for whoever he
likes but it’s mightily coincidental that he should
come from a syndicate that initiated a rule that sys
‘no collaboration.’
Furthermore and rather shockingly comes the rumour that
Prada were not alone in collaborating with Team New
Zealand. GBR Challenge is also embroiled in the mire
with speculation surrounding their testing period just
after they were knocked out by Stars & Stripes in the
quarter-finals.
Peter Harrison kept the sailing team alive and kicking
to the end of December to trial new equipment and to
see if the team could get the ‘helicopter’ GBR-78 to
work. In this time-frame, Team New Zealand apparently
shadow-boxed with the British on the open waters of
the Gulf but within the same wind bands.
If true, GBR could be shooting themselves in the foot
for the next Cup. Rumours were that the Royal Ocean
Racing Club were being considered for the next Challenger
of Record role. That may still be on the cards if TNZ
win but if Alinghi do it then Harrison has made a poor
judgement call.
All of which adds fuel to Alinghi’s fire that if they
do heist the Cup back to Europe for the first time since
1851 then they are going to instigate radical and sweeping
changes. |
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Prada
completes testing in New Zealand (01/27/03)
(source
:
Prada
Challenge)
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The last testing session at sea in the Hauraki
Gulf is over for Team Prada.
After being eliminated from the Louis Vuitton Cup on
December 17, the design team and crew have been working
on a series of modifications to the yachts Luna Rossa
ITA 74 and ITA 80 that had been planned many months
ago.
Starting from today, the Prada's shore team will work
on the demobilization of the boats and various equipment.
As Bertelli is expected to make a decision on his syndicate's
future in March or April, small group of team members
will continue working in Auckland throughout the America's
Cup. |
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Prada
Challenge for the next Cup ? (01/13/03)
(source
: Sunday
Star Times on Stuff.co.nz)
|
The head of the Italian syndicate, Patrizio Bertelli,
returned to Auckland to see what defender Team New Zealand
and Louis Vuitton Cup finalists Alinghi and Oracle were
hiding under their skirts.
Team New Zealand stole the limelight when it revealed
the hula, its innovative false hull appendage - and
evidently Bertelli was impressed.
His two-day trip must be regarded as significant. The
wealthy businessman adopted a hands-on role in design
decisions and he is understood to have insisted on the
bow makeover for Luna Rossa between the first and second
rounds of the challenger series when Prada was off the
pace.
That he was interested enough to return and inspect
other syndicates' underwater secrets, when he could
have been sent pictures, suggests he feels the syndicate
has unfinished business.
Bertelli intends returning for The Match between TNZ
and the successful challenger. He is expected to make
a decision on his syndicate's future in March or April.
Prada first challenged for the cup in 1999 when it won
the challenger series final against Paul Cayard's AmericaOne
but the silver bullet was then whitewashed by Team New
Zealand.
Last month, the OneWorld Challenge ended Prada's challenge
in the semifinals. Since then, the syndicate has scaled
down its operation but operations director Laurent Esquier
said the team was completing its research and development
cycle.
"We are still here and we are still working because
we believe this team has a future," he said.
Scale models of developments, which have been tested
in tanks and wind tunnels, have now been tried on the
syndicate's boats which have again been out on the water.
The syndicate expects to continue testing on the Hauraki
Gulf for at least another week.
Prada spokesperson Alessandra Ghezzi said the syndicate's
decision on its future would be influenced by the cup
winner and where the next cup will be held.
"So far, he (Bertelli) hasn't committed to another cup,"
she said. |
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Team
Prada resumes work (01/03/03)
(source
:
Prada
Challenge)
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Francesco de Angelis and his crew have started
sailing again with Luna Rossa ITA 74 and ITA 80. The
boat development program continues with daily sessions
for sail tests and comparisons.
In the past few days the Hauraki gulf has shown its
summer aspect with sunny skies and moderate breezes.
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Prada
Challenge looked back with regret (12/18/02)
(sources
: NZ
Herald
& Prada
Challenge)
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"It was not something I was prepared for",
said Francesco de Angelis returned to the base aboard
ITA 74 for the last time. "I am still trying to
regroup a little".
Going into this series, they rightfully took their place
as one of the hot favourites. With virtually the same
crew and designers from last time, and bases already
established in Auckland and Italy, Prada could spend
more of their budget on research and development than
others.
After five years of training in Auckland, Prada looked
indestructible. But after a shaky start to the competition
it was soon clear all was not well in the Prada camp.
First, there was talk the team's second yacht, ITA80,
had structural problems, which Mr Bertelli denied. Then
it was rumoured New Zealand sailor Gavin Brady was on
the brink of being fired - something Prada also denied.
However, in the first bombshell of the cup, the Italians
"demoted" head designer Doug Peterson just a few days
into the competition. As a result, Prada's yachts, ITA
74 and ITA 80, underwent extensive modifications, with
new knuckle bows fitted to both boats.
"When we got to Auckland we didn't expect to have the
performance we had in the first races", tactician
Torben Grael said. "A lot of effort from the team went
to make the boat go faster and a lot of time was lost
on the water practising starts and manoeuvres and maybe
we paid for that."
In the semifinal series, Prada's crew work was often
sloppy. Going into the series, Francesco de Angelis
said the game had moved up several notches and his team's
result in the last regatta counted for little.
"Every time you take part in a sporting event you need
to start from scratch with the intent of improving yourself
and your previous effort," he said. "We learned from
the racing side and the technical side but, in reality,
what we learned was learned by everyone else."
When asked if Prada would be back, de Angelis said no
decision had been made. "We have to take some time now
to go back through the campaign itself", he said.
"The future of this campaign is in the hands of
Mr Bertelli".
"As to the future of Team Prada and a possible participation
to the next America's Cup, I think it is still too soon
to consider this option before the end of the current
event," Prada syndicate head Patrizio Bertelli said.
Earlier, he has echoed the call of Olympic chief Jacques
Rogge for a fundamental change in rules as his team's
defence of their Louis Vuitton Cup title came to a farcical
end.
"I think that in the future the rules should allow for
greater flexibility in the race calendar in order to
allow better use of the weather conditions during the
whole span of the day", he said. "Often we
have seen whole days lost when a simple change to an
earlier start would have allowed the competitors to
race."
But Bertelli forgot to mention the fact that the lack
of racing has been caused by a new racing format (that
means far fewer races for the leading boats) wanted
by his Team as the Challenger of Record.
"The challengers make the rules seemingly to suit themselves
and best-equip themselves for a successful challenge,"
said Bill Endean, commodore of the Royal New Zealand
Yacht Squadron.
"But if they want to restrict themselves to a certain
weather window, and in the process are getting it wrong,
that's their problem."
It’s a case of the biter bitten... |
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