INEOS Britannia Faces Off Against the Italians on Day 1 of Louis Vuitton Cup Final
by INEOS Britannia 26 Sep 10:55 PDT
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. INEOS Britannia on Louis Vuitton Cup Final Race Day 1 – September 26, 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
INEOS Britannia, the British Challenger of Record representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd at the 37th America’s Cup, executed a remarkable comeback to finish the first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup tied on points with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA).
Led by Ben Ainslie, the British team is competing against the Italians for a berth in the America’s Cup Match against the Defenders, Emirates Team New Zealand. The Louis Vuitton Cup Final commenced on Thursday, with the AC75 racing yachts pushed to their limits in winds hitting the top end of the 21-knot barrier. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli claimed victory in the opening race, but INEOS Britannia retaliated in the second, bringing both teams level on points.
INEOS Britannia Team Principal and Skipper Ben Ainslie stated: “The racing out there was thrilling but very challenging under those conditions. It was a test for both squads, and a fair outcome with a win each. The atmosphere is positive; we know we’re in for a fight, and that’s exactly where we want to be. The team is doing a great job, and as ever, it’s a total team effort.”
The first final race saw the strongest winds of the regatta so far, exceeding 20 knots from the south-west, alongside correspondingly tough sea conditions. Luna Rossa executed their final approach perfectly, establishing control early on. INEOS Britannia aimed to challenge the Italian boat but were both delayed at the start, placing Luna Rossa in a dominant position.
Ben Ainslie and his crew exerted pressure throughout, managing to gain or at least match the Italians on nearly every downwind leg. However, on the upwind legs, the Italian crew skillfully navigated the racecourse, leaving their rivals with limited options—either unnecessary maneuvers or exposed to the wind’s aftermath. The gap steadily widened upwind, leading Italy to clinch the first race by 46 seconds.
After a lengthy wait for the wind to drop below the limit, the second race mirrored the first, but with roles reversed. Luna Rossa once again ventured deep into the start box and along the boundary before turning back. This time, INEOS Britannia positioned themselves ahead, leading back towards the start. Both boats were again slightly late, but the British crew found themselves set up to leeward at the line’s left end with a slight edge.
Ben Ainslie and his crew transformed that minimal advantage in distance and speed into meters by the time they reached the boundary. When both boats tacked, INEOS Britannia discovered a “lane”—clear air to lee of Luna Rossa. When Luna Rossa tacked back, the British crew executed their maneuver right in front of the Italian boat, forcing them to tack again to escape Britannia’s turbulent air. It could have been a decisive moment, yet a lengthy race remained in tense, high-pressure conditions.
The Italians had to maneuver extra tacks on that initial leg, allowing INEOS Britannia to round the mark seven seconds ahead. They then extended that lead with additional downwind speed, reaching 17 seconds at the second gate. The gap fluctuated, reducing to seven seconds at the third gate, but the British boat consistently had enough speed to relieve pressure downwind. Despite the challenging conditions, Britannia sailed swiftly and cleanly, achieving speeds of 50 knots around the marks.
INEOS Britannia consistently extended towards each downwind gate and controlled the upwind legs, maintaining their advantage at around 13 to 17 seconds, eventually winning by 18 seconds at the finish line. Two incredibly close races, with remarkably matched boats differentiated only by their starting strategies.
Ainslie remarked: “We’re understandably disappointed with the first race, so it was crucial to secure the win in the second. We were able to take the lead and protect it effectively. The Cyclors worked exceptionally well, generating the power necessary to navigate the course. We’re eager for Saturday’s races.”
The Louis Vuitton Cup Final will continue on Saturday with two additional races planned. Viewers in the UK can watch all the live action on Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com starting at 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST).
