Tudor Team Alinghi's bid for the match-race final unravelled on the final day of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples, with the Swiss slipping to seventh overall.
The team had gone into Sunday sitting third but struggled to find any rhythm in the opening race and never got going.
There was a flicker of promise in the final fleet race. Tudor Team Alinghi led early and rounded the first gate in second, exactly where they needed to be.
Then it fell apart. On the following gybe the foil failed to come up in time, slowing the boat and contributing to a touchdown. The team dropped back into the pack and could not fight its way forward again.
That left them seventh overall on 44 points, level with the three teams immediately above them. Fourth through seventh were separated only on countback, with the final race deciding the running order.
Still, there were genuine signs of progress across the weekend. Two second-place finishes and a third proved the team can race at the sharp end of this fleet. Onboard communication and boat speed were both noticeably improved on the opening preliminary regatta in Sardinia, and the focus now shifts to turning those gains into consistency across a full series.
Luna Rossa went on to defeat Emirates Team New Zealand in the concluding match-race final, taking victory in the second Preliminary Regatta of the 38th America's Cup cycle.
Attention for the senior sailing team now turns to the AC75 programme. Simulator sessions in Barcelona come first, before the AC75 itself returns to the water.
Skipper and starboard helm Paul Goodison did not hide his frustration. "We're frustrated and disappointed. It feels like a missed opportunity. It was quite a tricky day. We didn't get the best start on port in the first race and then struggled to get back in phase."
"We regrouped and had a really nice start in the second one. We were second around the top, and then a self-inflicted mistake with the gybe cost us. It's a tough way to finish what could have been a great regatta for us. We were only one gybe away from everything looking quite good."
"We showed that we can race with the best guys when we're putting our best foot forward and racing well. But we also showed that at times we're a little sloppy, with penalties and mistakes. We've got a short runway, so we've just got to really focus on improving and debriefing well."
Team Director Dave Endean saw plenty to build on despite the result. "The guys nailed the start in the second race and had a great first beat, but the level of competition in this fleet means you can't make mistakes. There were a couple of small issues on the first run and then a couple more mistakes on the second beat, and we dropped down the ladder."
"The course was pretty punishing today. The shifts were there to be taken, and if you didn't get them, you got punished. We made some mistakes, but generally I'm pretty happy with how the team went all weekend, both on shore and on the water."
