INEOS Britannia Advances to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final
by INEOS Britannia 18 Sep 11:16 PDT
18 September 2024
INEOS Britannia moves on to the Finals after Day 4 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals – 18th September 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
INEOS Britannia has claimed its place in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, with Ben Ainslie’s crew being the first team to reach the Final after clinching five wins against Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI).
The British team entered the fourth race day with a 4-1 lead over the Swiss. Alinghi Red Bull Racing fought hard to stay in contention, winning the first race, but INEOS Britannia bounced back in the second race, securing the crucial fifth victory and eliminating Alinghi from the America’s Cup. In the Finals, INEOS Britannia will either compete against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) or New York Yacht Club American Magic (USA) in a first-to-seven series commencing on 26 September.
Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and Skipper of INEOS Britannia, expressed: “We are thrilled and relieved to be in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final. The conditions were challenging, with light winds and a tricky sea state. Credit goes to Alinghi for their excellent performance in the first race; they were tough competitors. It’s unfortunate for them to exit at this stage, but they are a strong team. We’re eager for the finals, proud of our achievements thus far, but our focus now shifts to preparing for the final. Whoever we face will be challenging, as they are both formidable teams.”
Ainslie’s crew began the semifinal series with four consecutive wins against the Swiss team before suffering their first loss in light winds on Monday. Racing resumed on Wednesday under similar conditions. In the day’s first race, both teams had a level start before the Swiss tacked and had a brief misstep, allowing the British boat to gain an advantage.
Ben Ainslie and his team opted for the left side at the top gate to limit tacks in the light breezes, while the Swiss took the right side, where a significant wind shift favored them. This shift made it impossible for INEOS Britannia to cross ahead of Alinghi. The British team had to make an additional tack to round the left-hand mark, with Alinghi closely trailing just six seconds behind.
The initial gybe proved crucial, with both vessels rolling into it simultaneously as INEOS Britannia approached the boundary. A wave lifted the British boat’s hull as the team completed the maneuver, causing it to pitch and expose the rudder, leading to a loss of control. The Swiss seized this moment to take the lead, and by the time Ben Ainslie and his team regained their speed, they found themselves 500m behind.
The gap hovered around a one-minute deficit, but as INEOS Britannia reached the final gate, they encountered the same right-hand shift that had aided the Swiss previously. They aligned for the left-hand mark in the shift, reducing the distance to just over 30 seconds. This could have brought them back in the race, but INEOS Britannia failed to round the buoy cleanly. They were forced to tack later than desired, losing momentum and allowing the Swiss to sail to victory.
In the second race, INEOS Britannia incurred a penalty for an early entry into the pre-start box, yet executed an impressive start strategy thereafter. The British crew started fast and low, maneuvering beneath the Swiss to clear the penalty. This granted Ainslie and his team the advantageous right side of the racecourse, where they found a favorable breeze. They reached the first cross with the right of way and took the lead. Both boats exchanged tacks throughout the race, each maneuver feeling precarious due to the challenging conditions.
It was in the final approach that Ben Ainslie and his team uncovered the critical strategy for locking in their gate to the finals. After the Swiss ducked behind during a final cross, INEOS Britannia opted for the left side and calculated their lay line for the right mark perfectly. They caught the necessary wind and surged to a 25-second lead by the time the Swiss rounded the opposite gate mark.
The conditions kept all competitors on edge, knowing any maneuver could be race-ending over the next two thrilling laps. The final tack at the last gate decided the outcome. INEOS Britannia rounded the mark and was a couple of hundred meters ahead on the final leg when Alinghi Red Bull Racing lost their lift during their last tack. This concluded the race, with the British boat finishing a full minute and ten seconds ahead, sealing a 5-2 series victory and a position in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final.
The Final kicks off on 26 September, with INEOS Britannia set to face either Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) or New York Yacht Club American Magic, currently in a tight match with Italians ahead at four wins to three after the Italian team encountered damage in their second race of the day. The first team to secure seven victories in the Final will challenge the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, during the 37th America’s Cup Match (12-27 October).
