Elevating the Spar: New benchmarks established in historic 37th America’s Cup
by Kate Davison 1 Nov 16:58 PDT
2 November 2024
Emirates Team New Zealand celebrates their victory in the America’s Cup – Louis Vuitton America’s Cup, Race Day 6, Race 9. – October 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
On October 19, 2024, Emirates Team New Zealand achieved a historic victory in the America’s Cup match, outpacing INEOS Britannia by 37 seconds in the final race, concluding with a score of 7–2.
This Cup will be remembered for the Kiwis’ remarkable third consecutive win—the first syndicate to accomplish such a feat in the modern era.
Barcelona witnessed numerous historic moments and has plenty to look forward to with enthusiasm.
INEOS Britannia became the first British team to compete in the America’s Cup Match in 60 years and the first to earn points in the Match in 90 years. Orient Express Racing Team presented a new challenge, and the exceptionally high standards among the challengers made the Louis Vuitton Cup thrilling. In an exciting Vuitton Cup final, as INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli fiercely competed, exchanging victories, INEOS Britannia ultimately triumphed 7-4, also setting a new America’s Cup speed record with the Challenger of Record reaching 55.6 knots!
The inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup highlighted some of the world’s finest female sailors. Together with the Youth America’s Cup and the J Class Regatta, Barcelona honored the sport’s history, present, and future.
Southern Spars and Future Fibres, as leaders in high-performance composite rigs and rigging, are proud participants in this iconic competition. Southern Spars provided innovative rotating masts for three AC75s and the entire AC40 fleet. Future Fibres supplied the most advanced standing rigging packages, featuring integrated fiber optic load monitoring, to every AC75, in addition to outfitting the AC40 fleet as sole design suppliers.
In 1995, Southern Spars delivered its first America’s Cup mast to Team New Zealand’s Black Magic, which made history by securing the Auld Mug for New Zealand for the first time. Emirates Team New Zealand has solidified its legacy alongside legends like Black Magic, not only by winning three consecutive Cups but also by shaping the future of the Cup overall.
The AC75 has revolutionized yacht design with its technological advancements, while the AC40 has added a whole new dimension. These innovations are influencing sailing as a whole, even affecting superyachts and cruisers. Southern Spars continues to innovate alongside the teams competing for the Auld Mug, and we eagerly anticipate the next Cup cycle, AC38, with enthusiasm.