Cup Insights: Brits triumph in both clashes and aim for a historic triumph – Finals Day 6
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 2 Oct 12:47 PDT
3 October 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Britannia – Louis Vuitton Cup – Final – Race Day 6 – October 2, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
INEOS Britannia showcased two impressive performances, clinching consecutive victories on Day 6 of the Finals Louis Vuitton Cup and Day 20 of the Challenger Selection Series for the 37th America’s Cup.
The Brits disrupted the previously established pattern of the first five days, during which one team won the morning race while the other followed up with a win in the afternoon, leading to an equal standing on the leaderboard.
This pattern had persisted throughout the first five days of competition.
The British crew appeared confident in their AC75, which, as previously noted, is more forgiving compared to other challengers and can be driven more aggressively with less risk involved. Whenever they found themselves coming back into windward, they managed to recover swiftly without losing much distance.
In contrast, Luna Rossa seemed to require a more delicate approach, especially when recovering from rudder washout. Observations throughout the series and calm communication onboard highlighted the immediate corrective instructions issued whenever the rudder wash alert was triggered.
In their online debrief, the Brits acknowledged encountering a few control issues when they “lost” the rudder, placing additional pressure on the cyclors to exert force to quickly maneuver the AC75 back on course.
Given the challenging conditions today, with large swells, overcast skies, and winds of about 16-18 knots, it was noteworthy to recall comments made by foil designer Nat Shaver yesterday, suggesting that the Brits were sailing with foils tailored for lighter winds rather than winds approaching the upper limits of the racing range.
In both races, the British Challenger effectively secured both starts. In Race 9, they maneuvered around one another, with the boat coming off the starboard boundary holding the right of way but having to yield as positions reversed at the next intersection. At the first mark, the two boats were nearly even. However, the British team, using a #4 jib instead of the smaller #5 preferred by the Italians, gained an advantage which they maintained until the finish.
The tradition of this Louis Vuitton Cup Final was upheld as the lead did not change following the first mark.
Both teams were slightly premature at the start of Race 10. Luna Rossa briefly considered positioning beneath the Brits but ultimately relinquished that idea, seeming content to start off fast with clear air.
As both AC75s sailed on starboard toward the port boundary, the Italians found themselves cramped beneath the British, who broke off early. The Italians established a 40-meter lead, reaching Mark 1 just three seconds ahead, and maintained their position, finishing eight seconds or 200 meters ahead.
In their public debrief on Inside Tack, sailor/cyclor Freddie Carr remarked, “To be honest, it was intense out there, not quite the weather we anticipated. It was windier than expected, with a very aggressive, confused sea state to navigate.”
Reflecting on their immediate follow-up discussion after coming ashore, Carr recalled Leigh McMillan’s comments, one of INEOS’ trimmer pilots, who cautioned against excessive critique, suggesting the day wasn’t suited for data analysis or minor tweaks but rather required quick assessments and adaptations throughout the racing.
“In the first race, we collectively made a slight mistake by opting for a jib that was a bit too small – leading to an unbalanced boat for that race,” stated Luna Rossa co-helmsman Francesco Bruni in an interview with Shirley Robertson from America’s Cup Media.
“We faced some issues with the rudder when we were near INEOS. Additionally, there were a few minor tactical errors, yet the race remained competitive until we lost the rudder. From that point, we lost significant distance, making it hard to compete.”
“In the second race, our start wasn’t ideal; we could have executed a better start, probably opting for a split. Instead, we fell behind early. We stayed competitive for most of the race, though.”
“We are aware that we can perform better than today. While it hasn’t been our best day, I’m fortunate to have Jimmy [Spithill] by my side, who is renowned for his ability to make comebacks. We’ve done it together before, and I have confidence we can do so again.”
There is no racing scheduled for Wednesday. Two races will take place on Thursday, and the Final may either be determined the next day or head into a sudden-death matchup on Friday.
But the Brits will face the ultimate comeback king, and regardless, history will be made.
The America’s Cup Match kicks off just over a week later on Saturday, October 12, aiming to conclude by the end of the following weekend.
Final – Match 9: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Port Startbox Entry) vs INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Starboard Startbox Entry) Start: 1210hrs UTC
Start: A split tack start with Luna Rossa tacking toward the starboard end and aiming for the beach. The course is aligned to accommodate an NE breeze, negating the typical shore advantage, which usually makes both sides even; however, substantial shifts of up to 20° are common.
Mark 1: 03m 49secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 02secs
Mark 2: 06m 50secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 12secs
Mark 3: 10m 57secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 09secs
Mark 4: 14m 02secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 07secs
Mark 5: 18m 09secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 15secs
Mark 6: 21m 02secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 18secs
Mark 7: 24m 56secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 13secs
Finish: 27m 35secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 23secs
Key Statistics Finals Match 9:
Race Winner: INEOS Britannia; Time: 27m 23sec; Margin: 12secs; Distance: 356metres;
Top Speed: 51.2kt (GBR) 50.7kt (ITA); Average: 39.2kt (GBR) 39.3kts (ITA);
Upwind Speed: 36.1kt (GBR) 36.3kt (ITA); Downwind speed: 43.5kt (GBR) 43.4KTSkt (ITA)
Average VMG: 23.6kts (GBR) 23.5kts (ITA)
Distance sailed: 33,346mtrs (ITA) 33,946mtrs (GBR)
Tacks: 15 (ITA) 15 (GBR); Gybes: 9 (ITA) 9 (GBR); Total Tacks/Gybes: 24 (ITA) 24 (GBR)
Final – Match 10: INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Port Startbox entry) vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Starboard Startbox Entry) Start: 1315hrs UTC
Start: Winds measured 16.5kts at the bottom and 18kts at the top of the course. Luna Rossa switched their jibs between races, anticipating stronger winds for the first race, thereby feeling slightly underpowered at times.
Luna Rossa attempted to position beneath INEOS Britannia as they approached the start line, possibly starting too early. Unfortunately for the Italians, their rudder briefly faltered, but they managed to exit with relative control behind the Brits. Both teams crossed the starting line simultaneously. However, the British start proved to be slightly better, allowing them to maneuver above the Italians as both raced toward the port boundary amidst significant swells and whitecaps, forcing the Italians to tack off towards the starboard boundary.
Mark 1: 03m 32secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 03secs
Mark 2: 06m 27secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 11secs
Mark 3: 10m 39secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 12secs
Mark 4: 13m 37secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 10secs
Mark 5: 17m 44secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 08secs
Mark 6: 20m 33secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 13secs
Mark 7: 24m 26secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 09secs
Finish: 27m 09secs GBR led ITA by a margin of 08secs
Key Statistics Finals Match 10:
Race Winner: INEOS Britannia; Time: 27m 09sec; Margin: 08secs; Distance: 198metres;
Top Speed: 51.0kt (ITA) 51.3kt (GBR); Average: 39.1kt (ITA) 39.4kts (GBR);
Upwind Speed: 38.1kts (ITA) 38.9kt (GBR); Downwind speed: 46.0kt (ITA) 47.1kt (GBR)
Average VMG: 26.1 (ITA) 26.3kts (GBR)
Distance sailed: 33,943mtrs (ITA) 35,007mtrs (GBR)
Tacks: 16(ITA) 17 (GBR); Gybes: 8 (ITA) 8 (GBR); Total Tacks/Gybes: 24 (ITA) 25 (GBR)
Virtual Eye
After the races, you can replay key moments or the entire race using Virtual Eye from ARL by clicking here and selecting “Watch Previous” to choose the race you’d like to view. It’s a 3D viewer that allows you to zoom in, out, and around just as if you were in a helicopter.
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