Alinghi Red Bull Racing Ascends to the Podium in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup
by America’s Cup media 10 Oct 13:29 PDT
10 October 2024
Alinghi Red Bull Racing Women’s team, Switzerland (crossing the finish line) – Group A – Puig Women’s America’s Cup – October 10, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
Excitement and disappointment unfolded at the Puig Women’s America’s Cup when what was anticipated as the final clash between the America’s Cup representative teams resulted in only one light air race, extending the competition to tomorrow.
It was a challenging day for both the sailors and Race Committee here in Barcelona, as a predicted southerly thermal breeze never appeared after the fleet had set out early at 1100 CET, hoping for two swift races once the wind settled.
However, after repeated failures to reach the minimum wind speed of 7.5 knots, the Race Committee initially decided at 1145 to send the boats back to shore in anticipation of an afternoon breeze. Almost immediately, a new ‘Gregal’ breeze from the northeast arrived, instructing the boats to remain on the racecourse.
With the wind sampling finally reaching target, a race commenced that resembled an on-water version of the well-known board game ‘Snakes and Ladders.’ At the start, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Emirates Team New Zealand appeared untouchable, with the Kiwis emerging strongest and taking the early lead. Despite a late start, Athena Pathway executed an effective strategy by favoring the right-hand side of the course, positioning these three teams in the top spots by the first windward gate.
Athena Pathway and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli initially chose the left side of the downwind run but lost ground, while Emirates Team New Zealand capitalized on pressure on the right side, soaring into a significant lead. By the leeward gate, the Race Committee had shortened both the length of the course and the number of legs, leading to what seemed like an impending Kiwi victory.
However, sailing can indeed be ruthless; as the Kiwi crew neared the leeward gate, they fell off their foils, and despite tremendous efforts, they were unable to regain flight. Continuing in displacement mode amidst growing frustration, the New Zealand team could only watch as both Athena Pathway and Alinghi Red Bull Racing raced down the course and foiled around the leeward gate.
Managing the challenging swell, it was the Swiss team that navigated best, first executing a boundary tack to the right before taking the lead and maintaining flight almost to the finish. They crossed in displacement over three minutes ahead of Athena Pathway, who managed to recover from several splashdowns and fend off the fast-approaching NYYC American Magic, who ended the race in third – their first podium finish of the regatta.
After hours of waiting for suitable wind conditions, shortly after 1600 CET, the last three races were abandoned and rescheduled for tomorrow morning, starting at 1000 CET.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s victory in the day’s sole race propels them to third overall, surpassing the qualification line, while Emirates Team New Zealand, who were just shy of maximum points, must now reflect on a challenging day. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli began the day in the lead with a four-point margin over Athena Pathway but now finds themselves tied for first with the British crew.
In a post-race interview, Nathalie Brugger, skipper of Alinghi Red Bull Racing, expressed her delight tempered with a bit of realism about the Swiss team’s podium finish, stating: “It’s fantastic to be on the podium tonight, but we’d be much happier if we can maintain this position tomorrow. The conditions were challenging for everyone – a lot of ups and downs in the wind and sailors falling off their foils.”
When inquired how the Swiss team managed to keep their composure and stay on the foils for the win, Brugger admitted she did not realize they were in the lead until after finishing. “I believed we were second or third, but we actually came first. Still, we understood the importance of staying on the foils and ensured we executed our maneuvers only when we had the necessary speed, not based on when or where we wished to do them. We were in a kind of ‘survival mode’ to stay airborne.”
Tash Bryant, port helm for Athena Pathway, remarked that the British crew was aware that racing in today’s conditions would be tough. “We approached the race with a mindset of ‘let’s sail our own boat,’ ensuring we avoided any major disasters. Ultimately, we were pleased with our performance.”
On the decision to postpone the final three Qualification Series races to tomorrow, Bryant commented: “We just want fair racing, so we are fine waiting until tomorrow to see what happens, as any further racing this afternoon would likely have been dictated by luck. Let’s hope for good winds tomorrow and some exciting racing.”
Reflecting on being tied on points with the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, Bryant mentioned it did not affect the British team’s strategy. “Our goal remains to get through this first pool and be among the top two to compete in the match. We will treat it as race by race from here.”
Similarly, Margherita Porro, port helmswoman of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, said the tie at the top does not influence their approach. “It changes nothing because we stay focused on improving each day.”
“The conditions today were extremely challenging for us, especially the waves that made sailing difficult. Tomorrow we will proceed as usual, aiming to do our best. Hopefully, we can get a good night’s sleep as Friday will be intense.”
Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Jo Aleh expressed disappointment over losing their podium position after an early lead, yet remained optimistic about the chance to fight for a spot in the Semi-Finals tomorrow.
“That’s the challenge. These boats and the wave conditions make consistency very difficult. We were surprised by how well we performed on the first leg. Before starting, it felt tough to get the boat moving smoothly. Therefore, we take great confidence from that initial leg and look forward to tomorrow – ready for three more races.”
“There are 10 points available for each race, and with unpredictable weather, anything can happen. We were concerned we might not get another chance, so we’re pleased to still have everything to play for tomorrow.”
Everything remains at stake in the final Qualification Series of the Puig Women’s America’s Cup, showcasing the finest female athletes competing in this remarkable inaugural event.
What tomorrow brings remains uncertain, but the pressure continues to rise.
