Emirates Team New Zealand achieves two initial victories at the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match
by America’s Cup Media 12 Oct 12:34 PDT
12 October 2024
There was an extraordinary atmosphere in Port Vell, Barcelona this afternoon as Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia set sail from a crowded waterway. Despite light rain, spectators filled the harbor, and surrounding pleasure vessels honked their horns to send off these prestigious teams competing for the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.
Due to low cloud cover dampening the wind, the Race Committee initially called for a postponement. However, as the clouds gradually parted, a tricky and variable southwesterly breeze emerged, occasionally reaching up to 12 knots but often leaving windless patches across the racecourse.
Racing commenced following a brief delay, with INEOS Britannia struggling to take flight at the bottom of the pre-start area with just three minutes remaining, while Emirates Team New Zealand engaged in their starting drills at the port end of the line. The British team was late to enter, coming in with barely over a minute left and facing a determined Kiwi team intent on disrupting airflow, positioning, and ultimately gaining an advantage back to the line.
As the start drew near, Emirates Team New Zealand took off quickly to leeward with separation, surging ahead from the start, and by the time of their first tack back, they had built an insurmountable lead that would persist through the next six legs.
Demonstrating superb maneuvering skills, the Kiwis were 24 seconds ahead at the first mark, and despite some vigorous downwind rallies from INEOS Britannia, Emirates Team New Zealand extended their lead on every leg, rounding the final windward mark with a 56-second advantage. The final winning gap was 41 seconds, putting Emirates Team New Zealand up 1-0.
With the magnitude of the challenge ahead, a motivated INEOS Britannia entered the second race with increased determination and precision. A port entry allowed the British team to execute their signature tack-around-and-trail maneuver after crossing the Kiwis, a strategy that had previously proven effective against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, but they soon faced an aggressive Emirates Team New Zealand, which gybed around and took control on starboard tack.
What followed was a strategic battle to secure the right side off the line, and as time ran down, the Kiwi boat, sailing with speed, tacked right at the starboard marker and headed toward the boundary.
An intriguing duel unfolded, marked by frequent lead changes that ultimately favored Emirates Team New Zealand. On a shorter course with more laps (eight for this race), the execution of maneuvers was under scrutiny as winds floated around 8-10 knots. The pivotal moment came on the third beat, where Emirates Team New Zealand pulled ahead of INEOS Britannia, who had opted to gamble on the right side while new wind filled in from the left. The Kiwis effectively pushed the British team to the right and sailed away with a lead of 28 seconds that they maintained effortlessly.
By the race’s end, Emirates Team New Zealand was skillfully reading the puffs and displaying outstanding sailing with flawless flight control and smooth tacks and gybes. Crossing the finish line 27 seconds ahead, they moved to a 2-0 lead in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match, setting a high standard for INEOS Britannia to meet.
After the races, Andy Maloney, the starboard trimmer on ‘Taihoro,’ reflected on a remarkable day for Emirates Team New Zealand, stating: “Getting every phase right today was really challenging. There was a bit of sea state, making it tough to maintain accuracy with the flight and trim. We were doing everything we could for successful maneuvers, but even then, it felt like mistakes were made. I believe there’s much to refine in our technique, but both boats performed well. It will be interesting to analyze it further; things are tight.”
Regarding the unique atmosphere of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match, Maloney added: “This was an excellent start to the match. Overall, it has been an awesome day, with great support from family and friends at the dock and the vibe from the Ngati Whatua Orakei group here for us made the first day of the America’s Cup truly enjoyable. We’re thrilled to secure two wins, get past the opening day, and now focus on what’s ahead.”
Sir Ben Ainslie, skipper of INEOS Britannia, arrived ashore with a composed demeanor, reflecting on the day: “It wasn’t the start we hoped for, but credit to them; they sailed two really solid races. For us, it was a chance to reassess, and now we know we need to improve in several areas.”
“We’ll analyze where they outperformed us and our coaches will work with the technicians and engineers to help us understand. There’s still a long series ahead, and we’ll keep pushing.”
Exuding confidence and determination, Ainslie remarked: “Now is not the time to panic. We’ve all seen that the America’s Cup is unpredictable, and things can shift quickly. We’ll just keep pushing forward as a team, reassessing our performance, and seize every opportunity to learn and improve.”
“I believe that while they won today, it was perhaps closer than it appeared. We will keep striving to find that extra speed in our performance and maneuvers and come out fighting. Tomorrow is a new day.”
Both teams arrived at a bustling Port Vell amid a fleet of support vessels of all sizes. Barcelona is currently the hub of the sailing world, and the atmosphere was vibrant throughout the harbor as fans lined the shores, cheering with colorful banners and flags.
The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match is officially underway. Emirates Team New Zealand showcased real skill and execution on the racecourse, and with INEOS Britannia trailing 2-0, a strong showing on Sunday is crucial to halt the Kiwis’ momentum.
