Emirates Team New Zealand’s brilliance leads the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup to Match Point at 6-2
by America’s Cup Media 18 Oct 10:51 PDT
18 October 2024
Emirates Team New Zealand came out strong and efficient, successfully navigating the challenging wind direction in Barcelona to secure two clean races against the fast-providing Challenger of Record, INEOS Britannia, who performed well but fell victim to the Kiwis’ expertise in weather interpretation and boatspeed.
In smoother sea conditions, Emirates Team New Zealand showcased their prowess by maintaining a consistent ride height and executing smooth, rapid maneuvers. Their sailing team outsmarted and outperformed the Challenger, positioning them just one victory away from defending the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.
From the start, Ben Ainslie and Dylan Fletcher, helmsmen of ‘Britannia,’ made their presence felt by crossing from the port side with just inches to spare, attempting to chase the Kiwis who entered the starting box at full speed, eager for competition.
With precise turns and excellent execution from both teams, there was a thrilling lead back to the line, with the British completing the course more quickly. However, Emirates Team New Zealand critically held the windward position, opting for a smaller J3 jib compared to the British, who used a larger J2.
In the presence of a north-westerly breeze off the land, fluctuating wildly between 8-14 knots, this was a day for the “wind-whisperers.” Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge on ‘Taihoro’ effectively communicated with their trimming team of Blair Tuke and Andy Maloney on the first leg, proving to be the best readers of the wind. Committed to maintaining the right side, the Kiwis defended vigorously, first tacking on the bow of Britannia, forcing them left before ignoring the British and heading hard right into a significant left shift, yielding a lead that was nearly unassailable by the first mark.
Over the six legs, Emirates Team New Zealand sailed magnificently, with their boat performing flawlessly in the calm water, pulling away while denying INEOS Britannia any chance to re-enter the race. Each mark saw the Kiwis extending their lead, finishing one minute and 13 seconds ahead, bringing the score to 5-2 after an authoritative display.
The challenging conditions remained, and both boats were equally matched in jib codes, setting the stage for a crucial eighth race focused on reading wind shifts. Following a pre-start where Emirates Team New Zealand controlled the leeward side, angling to potentially block the British at the starboard line end, Peter Burling executed the final approach perfectly, starting just one meter back at 38 knots.
Britannia, to windward, was the first to tack away, but the Kiwis chose not to cover immediately, finding better pressure before tacking back to the right. This strategy paid off, and by the initial gate, Emirates Team New Zealand was 15 seconds ahead, looking dominant.
Across eight legs on a demanding course, INEOS Britannia could only hope for a lucky break, opting for the left side on the third leg and reducing the Kiwi lead to 23 seconds. However, a brilliant seventh leg from Emirates Team New Zealand showcased two successful shifts, allowing them to round the final windward gate with a 50-second advantage.
From that point, it was all about execution and tactical decisions, enabling Emirates Team New Zealand to gybe consistently with building pressure, sailing over the finish line on the port layline to secure a convincing 55-second victory, raising their lead to 6-2, just one win shy of defending the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.
Andy Maloney, an essential contributor to today’s victories as starboard trimmer on ‘Taihoro,’ reflected on the team’s communication throughout, stating: “It was highly satisfying in the offshore breeze, as the four of us were reading the situation similarly, leading to smooth communication. We’ve had several sessions in these conditions recently, and our experience helped us see things well today, making for enjoyable sailing.”
When asked if there was added pressure following yesterday’s events, Maloney replied: “Honestly, it was just business as usual over the last 24 hours—same processes. We understood the boats were closely matched and that we wouldn’t win every race in this America’s Cup. While we faced some setbacks recently, we did well to stick to our processes and prepare effectively for today’s varied conditions.”
Specifically discussing the technique used by the Flight Controllers in the tricky swell, Maloney said, “Navigating swells from behind on the upwind requires a unique approach, and both Blair (Tuke) and I executed it well, enabling us to fly the boat effectively. It was gratifying to see all components come together today.”
When asked about the feeling of being at match point in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match, Maloney said: “That’s the nature of the Cup; winning that final race is crucial. It’s just one race at a time for us. If we can finish it off, great, but we’ll keep pushing forward and preparing for each race, knowing that it may not always go our way. If not this one, we’ll just continue our efforts.”
Sir Ben Ainslie, skipper and Team Principal of INEOS Britannia, lamented the challenges of reading shifts and pressures on the difficult course: “For us, it ultimately came down to getting the first shift right. In the first race, we felt confident off the start, but they gained ground from a significant right-hand shift. They protected their lead effectively using the shifts and pressure. In the second race, we found ourselves on the windward side, but they sailed left into better pressure and gained the lead. That encapsulated the day—100% focus on shifts and pressure.”
When asked for his message to the team after a trying day, Ainslie replied with determination: “The message remains unchanged. The Cup format means it’s first to seven, and we need five more wins. We just need to persist. It’ll be different conditions tomorrow, and the pressure is definitely on. We’ll need to win every race now, but I believe pressure is a privilege—that’s why we’re here. I’d rather be leading than trailing—but anything can happen.”
During the pre-race briefing, Iain Murray, the experienced Race Director, described the day as “a sailor’s opportunity,” which proved accurate. Emirates Team New Zealand read the conditions nearly perfectly and demonstrated some of the best boat-handling seen in this series. They executed their maneuvers flawlessly throughout the afternoon, and with a score of 6-2, INEOS Britannia faces a daunting challenge ahead.
However, the British team will keep pushing forward with the true spirit of perseverance that characterizes the America’s Cup. With Saturday’s weather forecast predicting light winds possibly unsuitable for racing, the weekend could become quite interesting.
As fans gather from around the globe to witness the racing action and the unique shoreside atmosphere, the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup is poised for an exciting conclusion, where, regardless of the outcome, history is sure to be made in Barcelona.
