America’s Cup challenger Luna Rossa won 10 of 13 races to win the Austria Cup, held on lake Traunsee 28 May to 1 June 2014: Chris Draper on the helm, Francesco Bruni – tactician/mainsail trimmer, Adam Minoprio trimmer and bowman Emanuele Marino, with Pietro Sibello – coach.
Francesco Bruni said, “These boats are very interesting and, at present, are the ones that most resemble the America’s Cup class boats. To sail with one-design catamarans, full foiling and on a short race course is a great workout for us in view of the 35th America’s Cup.”
Paul Campbell-James of America’s Cup challenger Ben Ainslie Racing took second place helming on board Pete Cumming’s boat.
Third place went to Oracle Team USA strategist Tom Slingsby and wing trimmer Kyle Langford who teamed up with Austrian 49er sailors Nico Delle Karth and Niko Resch, who provided local knowledge of the tricky Traunsee conditions.
Not sailing, but in town to keep an eye on their competitors, were Artemis Racing’s Iain Percy and Loïck Peyron.