INEOS Britannia Ends Stalemate on Race Day 6 of Louis Vuitton Cup Final
by INEOS Britannia 2 Oct 10:39 PDT
2 October 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs INEOS Britannia – Louis Vuitton Cup Final – Race Day 6 – October 2, 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
INEOS Britannia has ended the stalemate in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final by achieving two consecutive race victories over the Italian team. The British crew now holds match point with a 6-4 lead over Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the first-to-seven series that determines who will compete against Emirates Team New Zealand in the 37th America’s Cup Match.
Competing in challenging conditions with waves reaching up to 1.2 meters, Ben Ainslie’s British squad pushed their AC75 racing yacht to its limits, excelling at the starts and maintaining leads throughout both races while wrestling with the rough seas.
INEOS Britannia Team Principal and Skipper Ben Ainslie commented: “It was an outstanding performance from the entire team. Sailing these boats through such waves is incredibly demanding, and it’s hard to convey just how tough it can be. You’re always on the edge, trying to keep these AC75s flying while navigating through the wave chop, which is a significant challenge for both teams. Securing the two wins is fantastic; the crew managed the tough conditions very well, but there’s still room for improvement.”
The initial race featured a distinct pre-start sequence; Ainslie and his crew entered slightly behind and tracked closely behind Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. When the Italian vessel turned back towards the start line, the British team kept it tight and got a ‘hook’ to leeward. Luna Rossa had to stay clear of INEOS Britannia, and there was a tense moment in the pre-start area with the British protesting, but the umpires ruled in favor of the Italians.
At the first crossing, Ainslie and his team chose to duck behind to take the right side, allowing both boats to head toward the boundary before the second crossing. This time, it was Italy’s turn to duck, and they set up to round the left-hand mark at the gate. However, INEOS Britannia gained ground and executed a tack in front of Luna Rossa, forcing the Italians to head in the opposite direction.
The challenging sea state made sailing exceedingly difficult, with both teams on the verge of losing control. They minimized their tacks, consistently sailing toward the course boundaries on each lap. Shortly after rounding up for leg five, Luna Rossa struck a troublesome wave and ventilated their rudder, costing them 100 meters before they regained control and sped back up.
The race was far from settled, as the sea state kept both boats on edge. With everyone watching anxiously, INEOS Britannia successfully rounded the final mark and sailed across the finish line with a 23-second advantage.
As with earlier days, the British team entered the day’s second race with a one-point edge, making it crucial to sustain their advantage. Approaching the start line, both boats were early and had to delay as they glided along the line towards the left end. When they shifted to start, INEOS Britannia was positioned closely to leeward, making Luna Rossa uncomfortable.
The Italians were quickly pushed away, prompting the British crew to tack with them. The race became more equal as they sailed on port tack, and the Italians leveraged their gains to return to the British. At the crossing, INEOS Britannia maintained their advantage and tacked back in front, sending Luna Rossa away. Ben Ainslie and his crew decided to let them go and used the final wind shift to their advantage. They gained ground when they reconvened at gate one and rounded the right-hand mark with a three-second lead.
Once again, the afterburners kicked in for leg two, and the lead expanded to 11 seconds. The British pushed hard to maintain their lead in the marginal conditions. A moment of rudder ventilation during leg four had everyone on edge as the team scrambled to regain control in time to gybe and round the gate mark. Seeing an opening, the Italians altered their strategy to engage the British in a tactical tacking duel on the subsequent leg.
The British remained composed and managed to recover, maintaining their lead to win the race with Luna Rossa trailing eight seconds behind. The stalemate was finally broken, resulting in a scoreline of 6-4 and match point secured.
INEOS Britannia Cyclor Neil Hunter remarked: “Achieving these two wins and breaking the stalemate in those conditions was incredible. The significant sea state demands much more from us Cyclors, as the power requirements double. Every function on the yacht is utilized twice as much, so it was a nonstop challenge for us Cyclors today. It was quite intense, but we performed well in delivering the necessary power.”
The Louis Vuitton Cup Final will continue on Friday, with two additional races planned. INEOS Britannia needs just one more win to advance to the 37th America’s Cup Match against the Defenders, Emirates Team New Zealand, starting on 12 October. UK audiences can watch live coverage on TNT Sports beginning at 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST).
