Italy’s Luna Rossa Piranha Wins Naples Leg of America’s Cup World Series

Byline: Log News Service

NAPLES, Italy (LOG NEWS SERVICE) — Italian boat Luna Rossa Piranha won the Naples leg of the America’s Cup World Series after capturing the final fleet race April 15.

Chris Draper skippered his crew to victory in front of tens of thousands of fans, picking up 50 points to finish 15 in front of second-place Oracle Racing — Spithill (one of two Oracle Racing boats from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club that are entered in the America’s Cup World Series). Emirates Team New Zealand finished third, 32 points back.

Luna Rossa Piranha also finished second in the Match Racing, beaten in the final by Artemis Racing.

Oracle Racing — Bundock won the AC500 Speed Trial in 47.56 seconds, 0.02 ahead of Artemis Racing.

The results at Naples mean that Oracle Racing — Spithill has overtaken Emirates Team New Zealand and moved into first place by one point on the America’s Cup World Series Championship leader board.

Naples Mayor Luigi de Magistris handed over the America’s Cup official flag to Giorgio Orsoni, the mayor of Venice, Italy, where the America’s Cup World Series will continue May 15-20.

The Spanish team Green Comm Racing, which did not participate at Naples, announced that it has withdrawn its challenge for the 34th America’s Cup and will not participate in future World Series events.

After Venice, it’s back to the United States — this time to Newport, R.I. — for the final regatta of the 2011-2012 America’s Cup World Series, June 26-July 1.

The World Series events allow teams to race regularly and promote the final 34th America’s Cup match scheduled on San Francisco Bay in September 2013. This final race will match the defending Oracle Racing against a foreign challenger for the America’s Cup.

— A report from the Associated Press was used in this story