Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Day 2
by Mark Jardine 13 Oct 05:46 PDT
13 October 2024
Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Race 3 – October 13, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
The opening day of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup heavily favored the Defender, and the Challenger needed a strong performance to stay competitive.
Scoring a point would change the momentum, while a 4-0 lead for Emirates Team New Zealand would be disastrous for INEOS Britannia.
Analysis revealed that while the boats had similar speeds, the Kiwis maintained more speed during maneuvers and often gained more distance upwind through tacks. The British performance team was likely analyzing the data to find ways to match that.
Race 3: INEOS Britannia vs. Emirates Team New Zealand
Both teams entered the start area cleanly, with INEOS Britannia opting for a familiar tactic, tacking shortly after passing Emirates Team New Zealand, positioning themselves closer to the pin than their rivals.
A pre-start penalty was the last thing the British needed, but that’s exactly what occurred during a dial-down maneuver from the Kiwis, when the Brits failed to keep clear enough on port. This was the closest we’ve seen two AC75 yachts, undoubtedly causing stress onboard and among the shore crew, as their foils overlapped during the pass.
After clearing their penalty, INEOS Britannia valiantly returned to the race, only 50 meters behind, but Emirates Team New Zealand made no errors, perfectly tacking their opponents twice, forcing them left into lighter winds.
At the first windward gate, the Kiwis led by 19 seconds and expanded that to 27 seconds by the initial leeward gate.
As winds diminished, the course was shortened, and Emirates Team New Zealand closely trailed INEOS Britannia, adhering to the strategy of remaining between their opponent and the next mark. Being sharp and tactically adept places you in a powerful position.
Dylan Fletcher was significantly more vocal aboard the British yacht, and Ben Ainslie’s face reflected his frustration over the pre-start mistake.
The New Zealand team emphasized tactical positioning and wind strategy in their communication. Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge form a highly effective team at their peak performance.
By the second windward gate, the Kiwis had a 32-second lead, increasing to 33 seconds at the second leeward gate. Absent a blunder, equipment malfunction, or a major wind shift, this race was effectively concluded.
After a subdued final windward leg, the Kiwis maintained a 43-second lead, relaxing aboard as they won the race by 52 seconds.
Impeccable sailing has pushed Emirates Team New Zealand to a commanding 3-0 lead in the 37th America’s Cup match.
Race 4: Emirates Team New Zealand vs. INEOS Britannia
With winds diminishing, the lower wind limit was often unmet, resulting in racing being canceled for the day. Race 4 is now set to be held on Monday, which was initially scheduled as a reserve day.
