Italy’s top America’s Cup journalist, Emilio Martinelli, talked to Patrizio Bertelli, Luna Rossa owner, right after Thursday’s tragic incident onboard the Artemis AC72 yacht.
According to Bertelli, the team will decide in the next 48 hours the continuation of its America’s Cup participation. Bertelli will accept whatever decision his team takes, with no imposition from his part, and if they decide to stop that wouldn’t be a problem for him!!
Here’s what Bertelli stated, courtesy of Emilio Martinelli [as always the translation from Italian into English is ours]:
Emilio Martinelli: Mr Bertelli, what will happen now with Luna Rossa?
Patrizio Bertelli: Together with the entire team we decided to take 48 hours to reflect. Some of the English guys went back home to be close to the family. We were getting ready for the first sail since our AC72 was already assembled. It was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Now, we will see. However, regardless of the decision the team will take, whether it’s the sailing crew or the shore crew, there are no impositions from my part. Then we will also have to wait for the decision of the San Francisco authorities.
Patrizio Bertelli will accept whatever decision his team members take on the continuation of Luna Rossa or not in the America’s Cup. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info
Emilio Martinelli: The future of the America’s Cup?
Patrizio Bertelli: The way it is now is not good. It is necessary that those responsible took note. Not everyone has realized that we have gone from a romantic America’s Cup to an extreme one. We have become like Formula 1 or the Rallies, where, however, there is a number of structures both during practice and racing, and I’m referring to medical, security and so forth. We, however, go on the water without all that. I think if there were a rescue boat with divers and all of the above, that guy could have been saved. [Editor's Note, during the early regattas of the World Series, the specialists from Bergamo Scuba Angels were on the race course, with the means and the preparation for first aid intervention as well as from a helicopter]
Emilio Martinelli: What should be done then?
Patrizio Bertelli: Every time we go out on the water with an AC72 a range of safety measures should be activated with fast tender boats, doctors and all the rest. However, there is still the problem we now are an extreme sport. It is therefore necessary to change. We have already seen with the rigid-wing AC45′s what the problems and performances are. This Cup with the AC72′s is too extreme an attempt, they have to realize it and change, revise the rules, everything. However, this Cup will be the first but also the last with the AC72′s. Also because I do not think that in San Francisco they can pretend nothing has happened. They chose a race course which is basically on the open sea without any type of safety.
It seems to have been a breakage on the boat, a broken beam that caused the capsize. I have no definite information. But it could be. In a bear away if the leeward hull gets stuck under water the whole structure could have given in.
Emilio Martinelli: So, for Luna Rossa everything is pushed back 48 hours.
Patrizio Bertelli: Yes, we will see after the team has taken its decision.
Emilio Martinelli: And what is your decision?
Patrizio Bertelli: We need to change but I’ll wait to see what the guys tell me. In case they told me to stop, that wouldn’t be a problem for me.