Athena Pathway claims spot in inaugural PUIG Women’s America’s Cup Final
by Athena Pathway 11 Oct 12:42 PDT
11 October 2024
Athena Pathway Women Great Britain, finishing the race during the Puig Women’s America’s Cup Semi Final Race 4 – October 11, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
Athena Pathway, the British squad supported by Cobham Ultra and representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, has claimed a spot in the first ever PUIG Women’s America’s Cup Final. The British team will compete against the Italian squad Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in a one-race final on Saturday, with both teams vying to make history as the champions of this inaugural event.
Team Principal and Skipper Hannah Mills expressed: “It’s incredible to be in the first ever Women’s America’s Cup Final. We are thrilled. We will savor this moment and then focus on what promises to be an exhilarating and action-filled race against the Italians.”
Friday was an intense day for Athena Pathway, featuring a demanding six races. The Brits kicked off the day with the last two races of the Qualifying Series for female teams participating in the 37th America’s Cup. The first race commenced after a lengthy delay due to light winds but was halted midway as teams struggled to remain on their foils in the faint breeze.
Following the return of the wind, race six was launched, which was declared the final contest of the Qualifying Series. Athena Pathway excelled in this race, clinching the victory and securing their place in the Semi-Final. There were three spots available in the Semi-Final, with all six teams fighting intensely to stay in the tournament. The series concluded with Athena Pathway, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA), and Emirates Team New Zealand advancing, alongside the top three invited teams—Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands—into the Semi-Final.
That same day, the Semi-Final commenced, featuring four races for the fleet. Athena Pathway performed exceptionally well amidst the challenging light wind conditions, which posed a significant test for staying on the foils. The Brits took third place in the first race, followed by a second-place finish in the second race before dominating the third race and leading the fleet to victory.
During the fourth race, Spain was fighting for survival, with the host team needing a win to reach the Final if Athena Pathway placed fifth or lower. The race began intensely, with penalties affecting nearly all teams. As a result, Athena Pathway was forced to restart, losing valuable distance and falling to fourth place. This kept the Brits on edge, particularly as Spain led the race, but the Athena Pathway crew managed to bounce back to third and became the first team to secure a spot in the Final, followed closely by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
Mills stated: “We are incredibly relieved and excited to be in the Final. The quick transition from the qualifying races to the Semi-Final was quite challenging with the lighter winds. It was crucial to remain on the foils. The fourth race posed difficulties following that early start, but we came together and executed what was necessary to make it into the Final. The Italians have been remarkably strong throughout this event, and I believe we are evenly matched, so I anticipate a fantastic race.”
The PUIG Women’s America’s Cup Final is scheduled for Saturday, coinciding with the start of the 37th America’s Cup Match, where INEOS Britannia faces the defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand. Viewers in the UK can catch the live action on the Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com homepages at 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST).
