INEOS Britannia Faces Off Against Italian Rivals on Day 1 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final
by INEOS Britannia 26 Sep 10:55 PDT
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli competes with INEOS Britannia on Day 1 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final – September 26, 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
INEOS Britannia, the British Challenger of Record representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd at the 37th America’s Cup, achieved a remarkable comeback to finish the opening day of the Louis Vuitton Cup tied on points with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA).
Ben Ainslie’s British crew is competing against the Italians for a place in the America’s Cup Match against the title-holding Emirates Team New Zealand. The Louis Vuitton Cup Final commenced on Thursday, with the AC75 race boats pushed to their limits in wind conditions reaching the upper threshold of 21 knots. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli won the first race, but INEOS Britannia fought back in the second to equalize the score.
Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and Skipper of INEOS Britannia, remarked: “The racing was extraordinary but extremely challenging under those conditions. Both teams faced a tough challenge, and I believe the fair result is each team winning one race. There’s a great atmosphere in our camp; we know we’re in a contest, and that’s where we thrive. The team performed excellently, as it’s really a collective effort.”
The initial race of the finals experienced the strongest winds of the regatta to date, exceeding 20 knots from the south-west, accompanied by a corresponding sea condition. The race result was determined quickly, with Luna Rossa executing their final approach flawlessly. INEOS Britannia aimed to pressure the Italian boat, but both crews were tardy at the start, allowing Luna Rossa to assume control.
Ben Ainslie and his team pushed vigorously throughout the course, gaining or matching the Italian crew on every downwind leg, except one. The upwind portion told a different story as the Italian team adeptly managed their strategy, leaving their rivals with undesirable options – extra maneuvers or turbulent air. The gap steadily widened upwind, and Italy ultimately won by 46 seconds.
After a lengthy wait for the wind to drop, the second race closely resembled the first, but roles were reversed. Luna Rossa again sailed deep into the start box and down the boundary before heading back to the line. This time, INEOS Britannia opted to position themselves ahead and lead back to the starting line. Both boats started slightly late, but this time, the British team was positioned to leeward at the left end of the line with a minor advantage.
Ben Ainslie and his team transformed that slight head start into several meters by the time they reached the boundary. When both boats tacked, INEOS Britannia found a “lane” – clear air to windward of Luna Rossa. When Luna Rossa tacked back, the British crew executed their maneuver right in front of the Italian boat, forcing them to tack again to escape Britannia’s turbulent air. While it seemed potentially decisive, there was still a long distance to cover in anxious conditions.
The Italians had to perform the extra tacks on that first leg, and INEOS Britannia rounded the mark seven seconds ahead. They expanded that lead with another show of downwind speed to 17 seconds at gate two. The gap fluctuated, narrowing to seven seconds at gate three, but the British boat consistently had enough speed to relieve pressure downwind. Despite challenging conditions, Britannia reached speeds of 50 knots around the marks.
INEOS Britannia extended their lead at each downwind gate and controlled the upwind legs, maintaining a margin of approximately 13 – 17 seconds, ultimately finishing 18 seconds ahead. Two incredibly close races, with remarkably similar boats separated by strategic starting choices.
Ainslie commented: “We were obviously disappointed with the first race, so securing the win in the second was crucial. We managed to take the lead in that race and did a great job of protecting it. The Cyclors did an outstanding job generating the power necessary to navigate that course. We’re eager to compete again on Saturday.”
The Louis Vuitton Cup Final will continue on Saturday, with two additional races planned. UK viewers can follow all the action live on Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com from 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST).
