If there is one skipper more entitled to voice his opinion on the new America’s Cup racing rules, with the possible exception of Oracle Racing’s James Spithill, that would be Francesco Bruni, the helmsman for the Challenger of Record, Mascalzone Latino. Bruni talked to our colleagues at Zero Gradi Nord about the America’s Cup, his World Match Racing Tour campaign but also his goal to represent Italy in the Star class in the 2012 Olympics:
Zero Gradi Nord: Thanks Francesco for talking to us. Let’s start with a question related to recent news. Have you had the opportunity to go through the new rules of racing for the America’s Cup? What is your initial impression?
Francesco Bruni: Well, our starting point is the assumption that the changes that have been introduced are designed precisely to make match racing interesting even when sailed on multihulls. ISAF and the Defender, in drawing up the new rules, have realized that merely readapting the old rules wouldn’t have been enough in order to make the races interesting. Indeed, it could have been almost dangerous. Let’s consider for example the definition of the zone at the mark roundings: it will remain at 3 boatlengths only at the first windward mark and then become 6 boatlengths for all the other marks. This is undoubtedly a noticeable change. Another very particular issue, which I must admit puzzles me a bit, is the new system of penalty offloading. It will not be any more a turn about yourself, but you will be forced to slow down by the umpires who will also then decide when you can restart. If I understand correctly, the umpires will be both on the water as well as in the TV control room with monitors and other devices and will make you slow down until they judge the damage suffered by your opponent as a result of your action has been remedied. I think this is stretched, something not particularly dynamic, although probably a turn on yourself with a catamaran would be far more detrimental.
Zero Gradi Nord: Let’s consider the spectacle. Do you think the public will have a hard time understanding the new penalty system?
Francesco Bruni: I think so. In particular, the persons in charge of commentating will have a hard time illustrating its operation. It ‘s a system that, at first glance, seems cumbersome. My criticism though wouldn’t be from that point of view. What leaves me in doubt, from the point of view of the spectacle, is to see a boat slow down, ease the sails, stop and then start again, once freed by the umpires. To me this seems far less spectacular than watching a boat make a complete turn on herself right on the finish line, while her opponent is fast approaching. This, in my opinion, is a detriment to the spectacle of the race. On the other hand, I realize that completing a full turn on yourself with a catamaran can cost a lot of time. In short, it is a delicate matter that certainly deserves to be properly detailed.
Zero Gradi Nord: According to Torvar Mirsky, this new penalty system leaves too much room for interpretation by the umpires and therefore we run the risk of more protests once the yachts are back on dock. Is this a real risk?
Francesco Bruni: Yes, It ‘s a fair comment. Consider, for example, the fact that criticism towards the umpires in match racing relates almost exclusively to their decisions to use the red flag to impose an immediate penalty. And that criticism focuses precisely on the measure used by the referees to red flag a penalty or not. I believe that this rule will create a vivid exchange of opinions. Moreover, it should be added, that not all systems are perfect and honestly I have not thought about another adequate solution. For example, the Extreme 40 use as a penalty, rather than a complete turn, a tack when you are upwind and gybe when you are dowwind…
Zero Gradi Nord: The prestart will also undergo important changes. Indeed, instead of 4 minutes, the boats will now enter 3 minutes before the start and the port entry yacht will enter 15 seconds before her adversary.
Francesco Bruni: You are right, this is a huge difference. In this new match racing, America’s Cup style, there won’t be any dialup because the port entry yacht is given the chance to cross in front of her opponent’s bow. In addition, the prestart time has been reduced but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing because without any dialup or circling, very difficult to do on catamarans, it would inevitably be boring. I think the crews will go at slow pace until they reach the Committee Boat layline. Once they reach the correct position they will gybe and tack in order to sail towards the starting line.
Zero Gradi Nord: If we are not mistaken, the port entry yacht will not be as disadvantaged as in the classic match racing system…
Francesco Bruni: You are absolutely correct. They have allowed the port entry yacht to cross her adversary’s bow because they realized the catamarans aren’t controllable in a dialup. It’s inevitable they stop on the water and the new America’s Cup is all about speed. Therefore, at that particular stage, the show would have suffered and the catamarans would have been playing a game that isn’t theirs. As you said, the two yachts will be distanced, with the port entry yacht on the left crossing the other yacht’s bow, and then will come together with a bit of fish tailing, that is the classic game of the boat behind pushing the boat in front and finally the time on distance for the correct approach to the starting line. All that very simplified. I don’t think I’ll be proven wrong if I state that, undoubtedly, the prestart will not be spectacular.
Zero Gradi Nord: That was the first story that grabbed the attention of Italian media. The second one was the announcement of your intention to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.
Francesco Bruni: Yes, I have never forgotten the Star class. I had to put it apart during the past two years, due to my involvement with Azzurra, the match racing tour and other commitments. What cleared my mind from any remaining doubt was the very simple and straightforward decision by the Italian Sailing Federation: Everything will be decided during a month and a half of racing and that encouraged me to try again. I do so with the spirit of someone that wants to have fun. I have always liked sailing in a Star, it has always been a pleasure doing it and given the fact I have the opportunity during this period, I will give it a shot. I realize it will not be easy to go through the selection process: Negri, Celon and others have been preparing hard for over two years. The fact they haven’t had great results leaves me a little hope but I know it will be very difficult.
Zero Gradi Nord: When one talks about the Star class a number of factors are also included, such as the sails, the boat, etc. Will you have a new boat?
Francesco Bruni: No, Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to build a new yacht. We will race with a chartered boat, almost new, but always chartered. We have two or three options and we now have to decide which one to choose. Our sails will be from North Sails that have recently made progress with respect to Quantum. In short, we will enter to have fun and if the results come as well, so much the better.
Zero Gradi Nord: Should you be qualified, you will face an event that takes place in 2012 and, of course, requires an important commitment next year. How are you going to reconcile this activity with that of an America’s Cup campaign?
Francesco Bruni: Well, as the America’s Cup has not yet entered into full activity I’m not considering this a problem. Then, when I have to face this problem I will take a decision, but I can tell you right now that if I have the qualification for the 2012 Games in my pocket I will never let the opportunity go, for anything in the world. I repeat, the Cup is currently in a stalemate, especially for the Italian teams, so I do not want to sit still, waiting for better times. It’s an overly optimistic scenario to have the qualification for the Olympics and have an actual request to work in the Cup. At that point I will certainly be the luckiest person in the world.
Zero Gradi Nord: In Athens you fought hard for the medal until the last day and that was already your third participation. Is the qualification a dream you are chasing or is it an attempt to get rid of the bitter taste left by the Athens Olympics?
Francesco Bruni: Well, every Olympic campaign has left a bitter taste in my mouth and therefore every four years I try again. In China that wasn’t possible due to other commitments but the medal will always remain a dream. The dream of every sailor that has been through the Olympic classes and it doesn’t matter whether you have achieved it or not. When you’re there it’s like the first time all over again. But one thing must be clear: you can’t think about the medal if you do not win your national selection. You have to think about different phases: first you have phase one, the classification, and then you think about the medal.
Zero Gradi Nord: So, once you finish the Bacardi Cup will you go back to Italy and prepare your Star campaign?
Francesco Bruni: Unfortunately, prior to my commitment with Leone Rocca I had already filled my schedule with other competitions. Surely I will devote every available minute at the Star. Again, this is something that we decided at the last moment and we will make every effort to enter prepared, to the point that here in Miami, before the Bacardi Cup, we’re sailing in my spare time with the Star. Unfortunately I can’t cancel all the commitments made prior to this decision. I’m going to the Congressional Cup, and then, a week before Palma, we will go there to do some training. Among the events that I can not miss is the Congressional Cup, which last year we won, so I can not miss it.
Zero Gradi Nord: You’re going there to defend your Crimson Blazer…
Francesco Bruni: Exactly. I don’t like missing the events I have already won.
Zero Gradi Nord: Speaking of match racing, will this new activity affect your participation at the World Match Racing Tour stages or do you think you will be present at all events?
Francesco Bruni: I decided to take part in the selection events because they will not be in conflict, fortunately, with any stage of the World Match Racing Tour. The Olympic selection will be over by mid May and the World Match Racing Tour will start right after that and continue for the rest of the year. That as well was an incentive to retry the Olympic campaign. When I got the calendar in hand and saw that the selections were held in a limited period of time, I took the decision. It’s a brief but intense period, as Palma, Hyeres and the event on Lake Garda, all fall within a month and a half.
Zero Gradi Nord: Another novelty for you this year in the World Match Racing Tour will be your colors. You will be racing for Mascalzone Latino instead of Azzurra.
Francesco Bruni:Yes. We registered as Mascalzone Latino as they give us a hand and support us. The crew will be more or less the same than last year. We are now well-knit team and we hope to get good results.
Zero Gradi Nord: What do you expect from your opponents? Adam Minoprio will be absent, perhaps he could be replaced by some young talent …
Francesco Bruni: Well, I think that Ian Williams will be more focused than other years to win the title. I think that in addition to him, we will be keep a close eye on Torvar Mirsky and Mathieu Richard. Peter Gilmour, who last year did not do well, is always someone who has extensive experience. Among the young sailors we absolutely have to name kiwi Phil Robertson. He has grit and talent. There are big names in the World Match Racing Tour, many with experience and others new, but all to be taken seriously. It will be tough, but I like difficult challenges … and my Star knows a thing or two.
The day after for Vincenzo Onorato is a slalom between accusations and regrets. A slalom that he, the charismatic owner of Mascalzone Latino, deals with the usual dose of irony and philosophy. He jokes a bit about it, he explains a bit but also feels some pain. It never happened that the Challenger of Record – a very prestigious role in the America’s Cup that is attributed to the first challenger that is called to make the rules together with the defender in the interests of all other participants – it has never happened, it is said, that a Challenger of Record would withdraw from the competition.
