INEOS Britannia triumphs over Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 7-4 to claim the Louis Vuitton Cup
by America’s Cup Media 4 Oct 11:53 PDT
4 October 2024
Today, in a classic final race at the Louis Vuitton Cup, INEOS Britannia fought fiercely against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in Barcelona. When the on-water fireworks cleared, it was INEOS Britannia that became the leading Challenger and guaranteed their spot in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match, where they will compete against the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand starting October 12.
It has been over 60 years since a British yacht competed for the America’s Cup trophy in the final Match. The achievement of INEOS Britannia, defeating the highly experienced challenge of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, is significant.
The final score of 7-4 does not truly represent how competitive the 11-race battle between the two top Challengers was. In the initial eight races, there was little to distinguish the two yachts. However, during the final two days, INEOS Britannia discovered the right boat positioning and speed to gain the slightest performance edge, which enabled them to win three consecutive races.
Today’s conclusive race capped off a hard-fought, week-long contest between British and Italian crews. Barcelona basked in early autumn sunshine; despite initial pessimistic forecasts for light winds, the ‘Garbi’ southwesterly breeze materialized just 30 minutes before the scheduled 1410 start, delivering 12-15 knots and flat water – ideal conditions for these remarkable AC75 foiling monohulls.
At the start, excitement was anticipated, but a standard trail-and-lead strategy from Britannia – who positioned itself from the port end of the line – allowed them to bear away down the line and start cleanly downwind. The timing was impressive, with Britannia starting just four meters behind the line at 40 knots, quickly gaining a positional advantage that compelled Luna Rossa to tack away.
A bow-to-bow sprint towards the right boundary saw the Italians regain a boat length, securing a tactical positional advantage to approach on the right-of-way starboard tack, igniting an intense duel between the two boats after Britannia tacked sharply in front of the Italians – a clear statement of their intentions.
This was the beginning of many aggressive lee bow and face-slam tacks from the British, who consistently maintained their lead throughout the race, but were never far ahead, always just seconds in front of the pursuing Luna Rossa crew at each turning mark. Downwind, Luna Rossa managed to offset the inherent speed advantage of INEOS Britannia, possibly by choosing a larger headsail, and repeatedly challenged the British, looking to exploit any minor errors. Nevertheless, INEOS Britannia defended skillfully against their Italian rivals – executing early gybes around the windward marks to cover and steadfastly defending upwind, preventing any opportunities for their opponents.
Throughout this regatta, the profitable strategy has been to head right and defend, but during the last upwind leg, Luna Rossa made a bold decision to venture left – a choice that became pivotal. INEOS Britannia picked up pressure in the upper right quadrant, gained a boat length or more, and rounded the final windward gate with a nine-second lead, knowing they were mere gybes away from victory.
The Italians continued to push, dividing gybes on the final downwind while INEOS Britannia remained close to the left boundary. As the two boats converged mid-course, it was the last time that the British would allow separation; they gybed on the Italian line with a lead of nearly 200 meters. This was sufficient to sail toward the port lay line and gybe one last time before heading for the finish line and a historic victory.
Crossing the finish line with a final delta of 17 seconds, INEOS Britannia clinched the Louis Vuitton Cup. Following this achievement, the British sailors rejoiced in a victory many years in the making.
Jean Arnault, Louis Vuitton Watch Director, boarded Britannia to present the shining Louis Vuitton Cup trophy to Sir Ben Ainslie before celebratory Moët & Chandon champagne was uncorked and sprayed enthusiastically.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Team Owner and Chairman of INEOS, also came aboard to lift the trophy alongside Ainslie and his crew on the foredeck of the British AC75 before the boat was towed back to the INEOS Britannia base in Port Vell, where a frenzied welcome awaited from cheering fans and the shore team lining the docks, while nearby superyachts sounded their horns and TV helicopters circled above.
Sir Ben Ainslie, the skipper and Team Principal, reflected on this remarkable moment in British sports history, saying: “This is a huge moment for our team. We knew facing Luna Rossa would be a monumental battle, so hats off to them, they were incredible competitors. It took 10 years of hard work to reach this point, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team.”
“We share a long history with Luna Rossa – with Mr. Bertelli, Max (Sirena), Jimmy (Spithill), Checco (Bruni) and the entire team – which comes with a great deal of respect. They’ve been exceptional rivals, with a rich history in the Cup. This is just one chapter in our ongoing battle. For now, I can only express my gratitude for the competition.”
Jimmy Spithill, starboard helm for Luna Rossa, gracefully accepted defeat, stating: “Well done to INEOS Britannia, to Ben [Ainslie] and his team, it was an excellent effort. They began this team nearly a decade ago, and to recover and win after we knocked them out previously, they were the better team today. I thought we had a strong boat, and it’s hard to put into words, but I must thank my teammates and congratulate them for their fantastic performance.”
Spithill emphasized the support of his team, saying: “Expressing my gratitude is challenging. Many don’t see the effort that goes into these campaigns; everyone notices the race and the athletes but behind the scenes are the shore team, design team, and engineering teams. I can’t recall a time off since we arrived in Barcelona. Each day, regardless of prior outcomes, they are there, always positive – first to arrive and last to leave. Many times, they’ve worked through the night to ensure we could compete. One must be motivated in this sport, but having teammates like them, who go above and beyond for the athletes, is incredible. Thank you to everyone.”
Dylan Fletcher, the port helm on INEOS Britannia, stepped ashore feeling relieved, stating: “It’s been a journey to arrive here, and I’m quite proud of the team’s growth. It’s tough to reach this level in the America’s Cup, and it’s been 60 years since Great Britain was in this final position, so yes, I’m really proud of the team and eager for the challenges ahead.”
Fletcher commended the Italians, adding: “Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was an outstanding team to compete against, and as we observed, it came down to the finest margins. It’s a testament to these yacht designs how closely matched we were. Now it will be interesting to face the Kiwis, three-time winners and Defenders; we understand they’re extraordinarily fast, and it will be quite an experience to compete against them.”
The Louis Vuitton Cup will officially be awarded to INEOS Britannia in a ceremony at the Race Village along the Moll de la Fusta at 1900 this evening. After a brief, well-deserved celebration, it will be back to work for the British team, as all focus shifts to competing against the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match starting Saturday, October 12.
The Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series has showcased the competitive nature of this latest generation of AC75 yachts and demonstrated just how tight the match racing can be at speeds unimaginable just a few years back. Hard-fought victories were won, and ultimately, the trophy went to the British. The fate of the oldest trophy in international sport, the America’s Cup, hangs in the balance.
