Exciting and dramatic moments lead to a tied Louis Vuitton Cup Final, 2-2, after a windy day in Barcelona
by America’s Cup Media 29 Sep 12:05 PDT
29 September 2024
INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, the exceptional finalists in the Louis Vuitton Cup, remained on standby before racing today as a strong Mediterranean ‘Garbi’ breeze frustratingly exceeded the set 21-knot upper wind limit.
Eventually, the wind calmed, enabling the two teams to engage in one of the epic battles that the America’s Cup is known for throughout its history.
Leading up to that thrilling late-afternoon second race, there were concerns about batten problems on Luna Rossa’s mainsail, where several breaks had compromised the carbon fiber structure on the port side. The only solution for the Italians was to drop and replace the mainsail, and they summoned their Chase Boat team to assist with the change. Unfortunately for them, this occurred just as the Race Committee’s wind measurements fell below 21 knots, prompting the decision to start the day’s opening race as ‘live.’
INEOS Britannia then prepared for their start while Luna Rossa remained bare-poled on the far right side of the course. When the British entered the starting area, Chief Umpire Richard Slater disqualified the Italians for receiving external assistance and awarded the race victory to Sir Ben Ainslie’s team.
More drama unfolded an hour later, as the wind continued to fluctuate around the limit for the second race. Technicians boarded ‘Britannia’ to inspect a batten issue on their J5 jib, and ultimately the decision was made to partially lower the sail to fix the problem.
With the series now at 2-1 in favor of the British team, anticipation was high for the Italians in the upcoming fourth race of this first-to-seven-points series. A slow entry into the starting area from Luna Rossa marked the onset of a tense race that pushed the sailors to their limits.
INEOS Britannia made their entry on time from the starboard side at nearly 48 knots, immediately initiating a pursuit of Luna Rossa, which had to maneuver defensively on the left side before retracing a path across the starting area with the British close behind.
As time dwindled, Luna Rossa executed a bear-away maneuver and gybed across the British bow, a traditional match-racing tactic that INEOS Britannia attempted to obstruct, promptly lodging a protest. This initial protest among several from the British during the race was quickly dismissed by the Umpires.
From the start, Luna Rossa held the slightest edge—just enough to maintain a lead they would not relinquish throughout the eight-leg race.
The first two laps were filled with intense exchanges between the two closely matched boats, with INEOS Britannia constantly on the offensive, positioning their AC75 in challenging leeward spots upwind and unsuccessfully appealing to the Umpires multiple times in hopes of obtaining the ‘get-behind’ penalty for a substantial 75-meter gain. The cutting-edge telemetry utilized in this Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup means Umpire decisions rely on precise and indisputable data—though this offered little consolation to the frustrated British afterguard.
Despite Luna Rossa establishing what appeared to be a comfortable lead by the fifth leg, the British refused to yield, continually chipping away at the Italian advantage. As they approached the final windward gate, they had narrowed the gap to just six seconds with the two teams embarking on the last downwind leg. Now within striking distance, the British launched a full assault, but Luna Rossa adeptly covered their moves, crossing the finish line at nearly 50 knots, just four seconds ahead of the British, thereby tying the Louis Vuitton Cup Final series at two races each.
Jimmy Spithill, starboard helmsman for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating: “The most frustrating aspect of today was definitely the wind limit, but we managed to get the race underway and the guys rebounded exceptionally well, particularly after the unfortunate mainsail issue.”
“It was a fantastic race, a full-blown street fight that we thrive on—it was incredibly enjoyable. It’s crucial for the team to experience that level of pressure and stress together. Once again, the crew remained composed and executed well, but we must give full credit to INEOS Britannia for their relentless pursuit; they kept pushing, making this a valuable experience for us.”
When asked about any concerns regarding boat readiness after the batten issue, Spithill responded: “No, at this advanced stage of technology and pushing limits, no one is immune to a few unforeseen challenges, and that happens in every America’s Cup. We tackled the situation well, got the M1 (mainsail) back up, and returned to racing. The team showed great resilience today.”
For Sir Ben Ainslie, even with the day ending in a stalemate, questions lingered about the umpire decisions during the races, particularly the pre-start. However, he approached it with a hint of humor, saying: “It was an exciting race; we’ve had many great ones against Luna Rossa, but I was certainly frustrated by the pre-start call that we believed was a penalty. But in yacht racing, one thing is for sure—the Umpires are always right!”
Regarding the high-end conditions faced, Ainslie shared: “We were out there again today, and I think we achieved our yacht’s top speed during one of our practice bear-aways. The sea state was slightly milder, making it a bit more forgiving for the crew.”
For America’s Cup enthusiasts gathered in Barcelona—filling the Race Village and FanZones—and those enjoying the action on TV and online worldwide, today’s second race was undoubtedly worth the wait for the wind to settle. High-quality match-racing at 50 knots is an undeniably thrilling spectacle, and this race will be remembered fondly by spectators.
With four races completed, the Louis Vuitton Cup Final is finely balanced, with minimal separation between the two teams, suggesting this series could extend to a nail-biting conclusion. It remains uncertain who will falter first, but undoubtedly, whichever team triumphs will emerge highly seasoned for their face-off against Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match.
Racing is set to continue tomorrow, Monday, September 30, with two additional races planned in conditions anticipated to mirror those of today.
