Puig Women’s America’s Cup: Emirates Team NZ in third place after Day 1
by Emirates Team New Zealand 5 Oct 11:45 PDT
Emirates Team New Zealand – Group A – Puig Women’s America’s Cup – Group A – October 5, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
The Puig Women’s America’s Cup, a historic first for the America’s Cup, exceeded expectations today in Barcelona with exciting AC40 racing.
Group A, featuring the America’s Cup teams, competed in four fleet races amidst light, challenging winds of 7-11 knots and slight swells requiring utmost precision from the six crews.
Emotional cheers from Ngati Whatua Orakei and a large group of Kiwi supporters sent off the Emirates Team New Zealand crew of Liv Mackay, Jo Aleh, Molly Meech, and Gemma Jones as they departed from the Port Olímpic dock.
The Kiwi team had a challenging day, fighting for every key position in the four races, ultimately securing 3rd place overall, trailing behind the impressive Italian and British teams who gained a lead at the middle of the eight planned qualification races.
Emirates Team New Zealand’s results for the day included finishes of 2nd, 4th, 3rd, and 4th, resulting in a 3-point advantage over fourth-placed Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
Puig Women’s America’s Cup Race Summaries
Race 1
In nearly ideal conditions of 6-10 knots with a slight swell, the first fleet race commenced with GBR and NZL starting ahead of the rest from the port end, while others were clustered at the starboard end and started late.
ITA started at the starboard end and quickly tacked towards the boundary. GBR, ITA, and NZL proceeded to the port boundary, where GBR led into the first gate on a port layline before tacking for the port marker, while ITA struggled to stay airborne during their rounding.
GBR built a significant lead as NZL attempted to close the distance, reaching the first leeward gate with a 500-meter lead and 58 seconds ahead. A fierce battle for third ensued between the USA and SUI, contesting every gybe with the USA slightly ahead.
GBR maintained their strategy up the beat, keeping maneuvers to a minimum and covering the boundaries, rounding the final gate and navigating the swell with a 1 minute and 16 seconds lead over NZL. On the final approach to the windward mark, the USA lost their flight and SUI took third place.
With no errors, GBR finished first in the inaugural PUIG Women’s America’s Cup race, earning 10 points. NZL secured second place for 7 points while SUI took third for 5 points. ITA recovered from last place to fourth, followed by USA in fifth and France in sixth.
Race 2:
All teams remained high above the start line two minutes prior, with some boats struggling to fly. At the start, GBR regained flight momentum for a swift takeoff, with only SUI contesting from leeward as both teams spotted winds to the right side of the course, leaving FRA and ITA trailing after slow starts.
In the swell, making the port-to-starboard tack proved challenging, but both GBR and SUI managed to survive and proceed up the course. GBR rounded the first gate at 38 knots with a 24-second lead over SUI, followed by FRA, with ITA and USA close behind in fourth and fifth.
After a touch & go incident, GBR lost their lead to SUI, but both were quickly grounded in negligible wind, resulting in a fleet-wide struggle to regain flight. As wind pressure built, ITA along with GBR tacked at the left boundary for an intense drag race rightward. As they approached the tack on the right boundary, ITA faltered and nosedived, allowing GBR to sail past as the wind increased near the top of the course. ITA regained flight swiftly and managed to maintain their lead towards the final windward gate, rounding with a 13-second lead over GBR.
ITA gybed strategically to cover GBR, who had exited the port marker and initially headed downwind. Through consistent sailing in the pressure patches, ITA navigated down the course confidently, concluding the race with 10 points just as a dramatic wind shift occurred at the finish. GBR suffered in this transition, allowing SUI to snatch second position with GBR finishing third.
Race 3:
With the Race Committee calling for J3 jibs, wind conditions improved, and the sea-state intensified. Off the starting line, GBR surged ahead but faced competition from NZL, with the fleet splitting across the course. NZL squeezed upwind against GBR with FRA also pressing close, resulting in an exhilarating race towards the right boundary amidst bumpy waves.
ITA made gains ahead of the fleet approaching the first gate. GBR turned at the port marker while NZL opted for the starboard, leading to split tactics down the first run. GBR faced a boundary penalty and crashed but were allowed to continue while ITA surged ahead in a tightly contested pack with NZL and FRA in fast pursuit, exceeding 40 knots.
ITA rounded the first leeward gate 7 seconds ahead of FRA, NZL, and GBR. FRA took to the port marker heading right, while the rest of the fleet went left. By the end of the final beat, ITA maintained their lead while NZL incurred a boundary penalty, rounding the final gate with a 13-second cushion over GBR.
ITA bounced off the right boundary to cover the split gybe from GBR, extending their lead while rushing downwind at 41 knots, eventually crossing the line to assert their dominance in the series, earning the full 10 points. GBR crossed on the starboard layline, finishing second, while NZL secured third place ahead of FRA in fourth, marking an impressive race in challenging conditions.
Race 4:
The day concluded with a well-executed final race as conditions intensified. All boats employed safety measures in the pre-start, with GBR leading the fleet back while ITA positioned themselves at the starboard end. Both teams had clean starts and were unmatched, with ITA securing the best pace. NZL and FRA were close competitors as the boundary came into play, but ITA retained a clear lead. In the drag race back to the right, GBR made significant gains edging close to the USA.
ITA was the first to tack before reaching the boundary while GBR continued right. At the first gate, GBR gained substantial ground, rounding the starboard marker with a 9-second lead over ITA and USA. The tightly packed fleet quickly gybed to cover, reaching speeds over 40 knots on the run, creating a thrilling duel between GBR and ITA.
ITA overtook in the final quarter of the run, bouncing off the left boundary and approaching the leeward gate on the port layline to round the starboard marker with just a 4-second delta, USA maintaining a steady position in third. Tack for tack, GBR and ITA engaged in an exciting showdown while GBR pursued fiercely towards the right boundary before tacking in synchrony. ITA, positioned to leeward, applied pressure and forced GBR back to the right boundary as great racing unfolded towards the left side of the course.
As they arrived at the final windward gate, the stakes were high, with ITA achieving a two-boat length gain, forcing GBR into a slam tack. Both boats rounded the port marker with only 3 seconds apart, with FRA sneaking into third place after USA faltered mid-beat.
Classic gybing downwind from ITA showcased their speed off the wind, extending to an impressive 200-meter lead. Both boats raced towards the port layline to the finish line and executed flawless final gybes amidst tricky conditions, with ITA achieving a 13-second victory, extending their series lead to 4 points. A thrilling finish showcased FRA’s sharp gybe over NZL in the final moments. Outstanding performances from the teams representing the America’s Cup.
Tomorrow, Group B, the Invited teams, will take the stage. For the Emirates Team New Zealand women’s team, their next scheduled competition day is Tuesday, October 8, when they resume their quest for a top 6 qualification.
