Cup News – Day 15: Each Team Secures a Victory in Louis Vuitton Cup Finals
by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 26 Sep 11:21 PDT
27 September 2024
Luna Rossa and INEOS Britannia – Race 1 – Finals Louis Vuitton Cup – Day 15 – September 26, 2024 – Barcelona © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
Luna Rossa clinched the first race in the Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, held in brisk 20-knot winds and large waves. However, INEOS Britannia turned the tables in Race 2, completing a dominant performance that evened the score on Day 1.
After the race, British skipper Ben Ainslie acknowledged that the Italians “had an advantage.” INEOS Britannia delivered an impressive showing in 20-knot winds and 1.5-meter sea conditions, securing the second race in a manner reminiscent of the Italians’ victory in the first race.
Both teams appeared to handle the challenging high-speed conditions with confidence, which led to several delays in starting the second race as the race committee awaited more stable winds below the maximum permitted.
All mark roundings took place under extreme conditions, which Luna Rossa’s skipper Jimmy Spithill likened to “driving a Ferrari on ice.”
The second race mirrored the first, only with reversed positions. INEOS Britannia quickly secured a modest lead as both AC75s navigated the port boundary during their first tack and maintained it throughout.
During Leg 3, a traditional America’s Cup-style battle unfolded as the Italians set up behind the British, entering a “high mode”—sailing a closer angle to the wind to mitigate turbulence and lessen the British lead. However, their strategy yielded little advantage as the Brits maintained their lead. Remarkably, INEOS Britannia showed no signs of weakness under Italian pressure during the next mark rounding, where both AC75s approached speeds nearing 50 knots. There were no indications of race-deciding foil washouts, unlike several instances during the Round Robin racing.
The America’s Cup Defender, Emirates Team NZ, utilized the America’s Cup course area between races today, as the broadcast period aired a replay of the Youth America’s Cup Final.
The British team took the 65-minute break to convene for a coaching session on their support boat, with assistance from shore analysts and others, while the Brackley team reviewed data and video at their facility shared with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. The discussions on the chase boat also included insights from esteemed match racing coach Ian Williams, observing from a high tower onshore.
Williams undoubtedly had several suggestions for Ainslie and his team regarding their pre-start strategy. The break lasted long enough to conduct a thorough review of the 27-minute 25-second race without any external interruptions.
INEOS returned to the racecourse with renewed focus, indicating they clearly benefited from their Race 1 analysis. For those attempting to identify the reasons for the British team’s improved performance in the regatta, the thoroughness of both halftime and post-race review sessions may be a significant factor.
Tomorrow, Friday, will be a no-race day, during which time a pleasant 15-knot westerly breeze is predicted. Racing will continue on Saturday, when Barcelona will return to its usual state, with light winds expected for the next few days. Sunday is designated for a second racing day, whereas no races are currently planned for Monday.
Given the unpredictable weather and the balance between the two teams observed today, the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals are poised to be an extended contest.
Race Summaries:
Louis Vuitton Finals Match 1: ITA vs GBR Start: 14:15hrs CET (12:15hrs UTC) Entry: Port: ITA Starboard: GBR
The race management greenlit the start—without delays. The wind was just under 20 knots, within accepted limits.
Luna Rossa positioned themselves deep within the starting area, with the Brits trailing behind leeward, resulting in a delayed start for both boats. The British team tacked toward the beach—starboard boundary and initially lagged behind by 135 meters. They took contrasting paths with Luna Rossa maintaining a loose cover.
At Mark 1, Luna Rossa recorded 52.3 knots during their bear-away for the port boundary, leading by 240 meters on the water. Both vessels sailed upwind at 39-40 knots, presumably using their #5 jibs. These were perhaps the most extreme conditions faced by AC75s, aside from Race 3 of the Prada Cup in Auckland when Patriot capsized and partially submerged. The race committee decided to reposition the windward mark to 208°, indicating the wind’s direction. Luna Rossa experienced a near-miss on Leg 4 due to a high-speed wobble/control issue, though this slip reduced their lead only from 450 meters to 300 meters on the water.
During Leg 5, Italy extended their lead to 443 meters while keeping a very loose cover over the British. The Italians continued to widen their lead, finishing with a margin of 770 meters.
After finishing, INEOS Britannia’s skipper Ben Ainslie conceded that “the Italians had the advantage,” noting they fared better in the brisk conditions and the growing seaway. He remarked that the British team mishandled the start, stating, “we need to get in front and stay in front.” Both AC75s operated at their limits in these high-end conditions, with foils visibly cavitating (reaching a neutral pressure where surrounding water begins boiling, disrupting flow over the foil).
For statistics enthusiasts, Luna Rossa achieved a top speed of 52.3 knots and registered the highest average VMG at 24.2 knots, compared to the British team’s 23.6 knots. The Brits sailed 400 meters less distance than Luna Rossa.
For betting fans, the odds for the Finals in New Zealand stood at $2.00 for INEOS Britannia to win and $1.72 for Luna Rossa.
Mark roundings and margins – Final Race 1.
Mark 1: 03m 20sec ITA led margin 11secs
Mark 2: 06m 09sec ITA led margin 11secs
Mark 3: 10m 00sec ITA led margin 25secs
Mark 4: 13m 01sec ITA led margin 18secs
Mark 5: 16m 54sec ITA led margin 36secs
Mark 6: 19m 55sec ITA led margin 28secs
Mark 7: 24m 03sec ITA led margin 42secs
Finish: 27m 03sec ITA led margin 46secs
Louis Vuitton Finals Match 2: GBR vs ITA Start: 15:49hrs (CET) (13:49hrs UTC) Entry: Port: GBR Starboard: ITA
Both teams were slightly late at the start, with the British team positioned leeward of the Italians, crossing the starting line first with a narrow lead of just 4 meters. They both headed toward the port boundary, where INEOS needed to tack and Luna Rossa had to yield. For a brief period, the Italians forged a small lead of under 10 meters, but remarkably—given the earlier race—the Brits managed to sail past the Italians to windward, establishing a 25-meter lead.
Then it was the Italians’ turn to bounce off the port boundary, after which the Brits imposed a tight cover on Spithill/Bruni, forcing them back to the port side while Ainslie/Fletcher allowed them to pass. This strategic move elevated the British lead to 125 meters, enabling them to clear ahead of the Italians during their approach to opposite gates—both crews taking contrasting sides of the course on Leg 2.
With both AC75s sailing downwind at 47-49 knots, INEOS’s lead widened to just under 400 meters.
By adopting their High Mode on Leg 3, Luna Rossa managed to retract the margin to approximately 100 meters near Mark 3. Surprisingly, the Italians matched the Brits’ achievement of 30 knots VMG while navigating their corner during this segment.
However, the British appeared to have an advantage downwind—whether it was from effectively picking shifts or sailing deeper. Olympic Gold Medalist Dylan Fletcher remained vocal throughout. In the initial phase of Leg 5, the Brits doubled their lead to 200 meters once both teams had settled into their rhythm. Again, the Italians maintained a slight speed advantage upwind, sailing at 40 knots versus the Brits’ 39 knots. The lead narrowed to about 80 meters as they rounded Mark 5, but INEOS once again showed superiority downwind.
Essentially, the race was the British team’s to lose. During the final upwind leg, Luna Rossa made little impact, with the Brits cruising ahead and hitting the impressive 50-knot mark, extending their lead to 320 meters as they gybed off the starboard boundary. Luna Rossa had exhausted their tactical options and could only observe as the British increased their lead to 350 meters at the finish line, ending the day in a tie.
Mark roundings and margins – Final Race 2.
Mark 1: 03m 34sec GBR led margin 07secs
Mark 2: 06m 26sec GBR led margin 17secs
Mark 3: 10m 19sec GBR led margin 07secs
Mark 4: 13m 13sec GBR led margin 13secs
Mark 5: 17m 11sec GBR led margin 10secs
Mark 6: 20m 07sec GBR led margin 15secs
Mark 7: 24m 19sec GBR led margin 17secs
Finish: 27m 25sec GBR led margin 18secs
Additional Images:
Louis Vuitton Cup Finals Day 1 Preview:
The two victors of the Semi-Finals, the Royal Yacht Squadron’s INEOS Britannia and Circolo della Vela Sicilia’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, will compete in two races slated for Finals Day 1, Thursday September 26, 2024.
The forecast predicts winds increasing to 18 knots with gusts up to 25 knots and seas at 1.3 meters. The official forecast describes the racing conditions as “more than challenging.”
Weather Forecast:
America’s Cup Weather Partner PredictWind has established a dedicated Race Weather Center that provides fans with detailed daily weather breakdowns, live webcams, and historical weather data, along with meteorologist-written forecasts.
Provisional Forecast for Race Day 15, Thursday September 26, 2024:
From Arnaud Monges, former America’s Cup Team Meteorologist:
A southwest wind gradient will impact Barcelona on Thursday, associated with a deep low pressure system over Northern Europe. Morning winds from the southwest are expected around 10 knots. By the afternoon, winds will rise to 14-18 knots coming from the 220° direction, with potential gusts up to 25 knots.
These winds will generate waves of up to 1.3 meters from the southwest, with a 5-second interval, resulting in racing conditions that are certainly more than challenging.
A sunny day is forecast with rising temperatures, reaching up to 29°C, fueled by warm air from the south.
UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Final and Louis Vuitton Cup Race Schedule:
UniCredit Youth America’s Cup Match Race Final Start: 12:20hrs CET (10:20hrs UTC) Entry: Port: USA Starboard: ITA
Louis Vuitton Finals Match 1: ITA vs GBR Start: 14:15hrs CET (12:15hrs UTC) Entry: Port: ITA Starboard: GBR
Louis Vuitton Finals Match 2: GBR vs ITA Start: 15:49hrs (CET) (13:49hrs UTC) Entry: Port: GBR Starboard: ITA
Thursday’s Live race coverage:
Pre-race commentary:
Today, accurate helmsmanship and precise flight control will be crucial to avoid foil washouts at critical junctures.
The Finals format is modeled after the America’s Cup—13 races are scheduled, with the first team to score 7 points declared the winner. This typically means the first to win seven races, though the International Jury may impose point penalties for infractions, both on and off the water, that fall outside the standard Racing Rules enforced by the Umpiring team.
Two races are planned each day, adhering to the same wind limit guidelines used in earlier Louis Vuitton Cup rounds—a lower limit of 6.5 knots and an upper limit of 21 knots, measured at the start line and various course gates using recording devices. Four devices will be utilized, with average readings taken over 30-second intervals during a five-minute period starting from 9 minutes down to 4 minutes before the start. If wind conditions are within the stipulated limits, the Course Director announces via radio (as heard on the TV commentary) that racing will proceed.
If authorized, the races will continue regardless of any further changes in wind conditions. Once racing is confirmed, the only limitation on the race is a first-leg time limit of 12 minutes, followed by a total race time limit of 45 minutes. The race committee has the authority to adjust leg lengths, compass headings for the next leg, and the number of legs while the race is in progress.
To date, no race has exceeded a duration of 25 minutes.
The race director holds the power to cancel race starts (even if the wind is within limits) if he deems the sea state unsafe. He can also call off a race for safety reasons—a measure he nearly invoked during lightning strikes on Day 5 of the Louis Vuitton Cup. However, Emirates Team NZ’s decision to withdraw and sail beyond the 100-meter boundary, resulting in their disqualification, led to the immediate awarding of the race to Luna Rossa and effectively precluded any safety-related actions by the Race Director.
Our coverage includes weather updates, live video, real-time images from the racecourse, statistics for mark roundings, rounding times and margins, and additional commentary.
Course Location:
Weather Information – Louis Vuitton Cup – Finals – Day 1
Crew Lists
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