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The first race was effectively settled over the
starting line as INEOS coughed up an early 600m advantage that
the Italians never looked like giving up.
Ben Ainslie's INEOS also collected penalties for entering the
start box too early and then for crossing the boundary. Luna
Rossa, who crushed American Magic 4-0 in the semi-final, coasted
to victory by one minute and 52 seconds.
Both teams made a solid start in the second race before Luna
Rossa opened up a small advantage through the first gate. The
Italians maintained their slender lead throughout the race
before crossing the line 26 seconds clear.
"It was a good day, I thought the boys sailed really well
onboard," Luna Rossa co-helmsman Jimmy Spithill said.
"There are still a few things we need to sharpen up on. But
great job by the team. The boat was firing very well."
Ainslie was left to rue costly mistakes at the start of the
opening race.
"One boat could get off the foil and one couldn't and that was
the story," he said. "But it is what it is and we've got to do
the best we can in the conditions and keep pushing."
The skipper was hopeful INEOS would turn things around on
Sunday.
"They're a great team and it can be pretty hard to get past
them. A different day, so let's see what we get tomorrow,"
Ainslie added.
The best-of-13 Challenger Series final ends on Feb. 22 with the
winners taking on Team New Zealand from March 6 for the
America's Cup.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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