Cup Spy – Day 29: America’s Cup Match – Day 3 – The One That Slipped Away
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 14 Oct 13:39 PDT
14 October 2024
INEOS Britannia and Emirates Team New Zealand – Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Race Day 3 – October 14, 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
Today’s scoreline could have easily been 3-1, with the British team getting a glimpse of victory against the Kiwis for the first time in this America’s Cup.
Following yesterday’s controversy regarding the pre-start penalty, the British team was clearly still upset about the ruling this morning. They engaged in what rules coach Ian Williams, a seven-time world match racing champion, termed a “robust exchange of views” with Chief Umpire Richard Slater in the parking lot outside the media center. The tension seemed to have infused the team, energizing them beyond what any pep talk could achieve.
Observing today’s INEOS Britannia Dock Walk, it was apparent the relaxed discussions of previous days had vanished. Now, there was an atmosphere of short phrases, tense expressions, and darting glances. The Brits were eager to dive into the race.
Expectations ran high that this could be their day—the pivotal moment that at least secured one victory for the Challenger on the America’s Cup scoreboard.
The start belonged to the Defender, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, by a few meters.
Yet again, the RNZYS team Emirates Team New Zealand surprised everyone during the pre-start—not with the drama of yesterday, where they narrowly avoided a collision, but because they were able to more than hold their own against Royal Yacht Squadron—whose team INEOS Britannia had previously dominated this aspect during the Louis Vuitton Cup.
During the initial minute and a half out of the start, the lead shifted back and forth, and then the British team emerged off the starboard (right-hand) boundary, exhibiting a lead of 65 meters over the Kiwis. As expected, the gap lessened as the boats closed in, and according to Virtual Eye, the minimum margin recorded was 25 meters as the Kiwis crossed behind INEOS Britannia for the first and only time in the race.
However, the British opted not to closely cover the Kiwis, abandoning the tight cover strategy they had employed in earlier winning moves in similar situations during the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Emirates Team NZ sailed straight to the starboard boundary under overcast skies, with a peculiar haze obscuring the typically clear shoreline, while INEOS Britannia veered nearly to the port (left-hand) boundary, returning on the layline for the top gate, or Mark 1.
Immediately after tacking, it seemed the British had made a clever choice as their initial margin was almost 75 meters—but it narrowed as the two AC75s converged.
Analysis from Virtual Eye showed a significant 12-knot difference in VMG between the two boats, with the Kiwis at 25 knots while the Brits lagged at 13 knots. This disparity was enough to erase the Challenger’s lead.
Once again, the Kiwis executed their tack flawlessly, maneuvering underneath the British boat, heading towards the first gate side by side but taking different gates. They were recorded with a rare zero-second margin, proceeding down opposite boundaries, hoping for either more pressure or a wind shift to gain the upper hand.
Unexpectedly, the British team did not enjoy the anticipated speed advantage downwind, with the official margin at the bottom gate recorded at three seconds, though Virtual Eye indicated it was nearly negligible.
As they entered the second windward leg’s beginning, the two AC75s remained closely matched. However, midway through the leg, the New Zealanders received a “kiwi puff,” transforming their slight edge into a more comfortable lead, leaving the race firmly in their grasp.
“We were even off the line, but they gained the upper hand on us after that initial exchange,” explained ETNZ’s Andy Maloney. “That moment was crucial for us; we needed to find a way to reclaim the lead on that first beat.” The flight controller trimmed added, “Perhaps they made a slight miscalculation at the top on the layline, allowing us to get inside them on that right turn. That was our key moment, and from there, we just sailed cleanly to extend our lead.”
With a rest day on Tuesday and just one race today, both teams will analyze their race data and the publicly available performance metrics of their opponent, resailing all four races in their minds.
Each team possesses ample information from the Louis Vuitton Cup to provide them a solid matchup and starting playbook against one another. Yet, the Brits will be updating their notes on the Kiwis, as they haven’t faced them in the starting box for several weeks.
INEOS Britannia will also have their team in Brackley, UK, scrutinizing the same data, searching for any advantages that may arise from various performance simulators. They have access to extensive F1 race team resources, which are far more significant than those available to an America’s Cup team, and wind tunnel testing is permissible in F1, with those lessons offering applicable insights for the Cup boat without breaching any rules.
Today marked the closest race yet in the 37th Match for the America’s Cup.
Margins remain tight. Nevertheless, the long-standing truth persists: in 14 races, there has been no lead change after rounding the first mark/gate.
Excluding Leg 1 of each race, there have been about 70 legs contested where the leading boat at the start of the leg maintained their lead until it concluded. This significant statistic emphasizes that during the first leg, if you have an opportunity to cover an opponent, it must be done—statistically, once a leading boat rounds the first mark, the victory is virtually assured.
Discussions between the British and the umpiring team continue over Sunday’s near-miss in the pre-start, for which the Brits received a 75-meter penalty—one that could have potentially altered the race outcome—certainly an unexpected boon for the Kiwis.
Such ongoing dialogue cannot overturn the umpires’ decision, even if, in hindsight, they acknowledge any errors regarding this or other incidents.
Debates between sailors and umpires have always been integral to match racing and adjudicating since the system’s inception, fostering the development of officiating and facilitating new interpretations as necessary. This dialogue is valuable, allowing each side to better comprehend the other’s reasoning and logic—helping sailors understand the rules more thoroughly while enabling umpires to grasp how sailors interpret those rules during their maneuvers. Often, it is the umpires who refine their thinking following these robust discussions.
It is not uncommon for both parties to agree to disagree, and discussions frequently endure long after the regatta has finished—eventually leading to modifications in rules or interpretations.
The next race day is on Wednesday—a pivotal moment for the British. They must secure at least one win, preferably two, to remain in contention for the Cup.
“We’re three days in, and we find ourselves four-nil down, which is not where we want to be,” stated co-helm Dylan Fletcher. “However, if you evaluate our performance from Race 1 to Race 4, we’ve improved our speed significantly compared to theirs. We are eager for the battle that lies ahead.”
If the score reaches 6-0 after Wednesday, it is doubtful any racing will occur before Saturday. The regatta organizers have consistently indicated their aim to conclude racing this weekend, if possible, although it is improbable they will achieve this before then.
Additionally, both sides must prepare for who will become the next Challenger of Record if the America’s Cup concludes on Saturday, with the customary Notice of Challenge exchange anticipated to occur moments after the outcome of the 37th Match is finalized.
Forecasts suggest that the wind and sea conditions will improve on Tuesday for testing, and on Wednesday for the race. For INEOS Britannia, this will bring them back to the conditions in which they previously excelled during the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Surprisingly, it wouldn’t be shocking if Emirates Team New Zealand were also quite comfortable in stronger winds. In recent test sails in Auckland, they were unfazed by powerful winds, navigating Taihoro in gusts up to 35 knots just a week after it was launched.
This year’s America’s Cup maintains its intrigue—and there is plenty of golf left in this hole.
Race 4: Emirates Team New Zealand (Port Startbox entry) vs INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Starboard Startbox Entry) Start: 1415hrs CET
Start:
Mark 1: 04m 36sec NZL and GBR Even
Mark 2: 08m 25sec NZL led GBR margin 03sec
Mark 3: 13m 53sec NZL led GBR margin 13sec
Mark 4: 17m 35sec NZL led GBR margin 15sec
Mark 5: 22m 59sec NZL led GBR margin 24sec
Finish: 26m 50sec NZL led GBR margin 23secs
Pre-Race Commentary
A strong onshore breeze seemed likely for Day 3 of the America’s Cup, which will feature just one race.
The easterly winds indicate that the course sides should be more evenly matched than when the wind blows from a more southerly direction.
This should make it harder for an early leader to consolidate and control the race.
The Brits appeared energized this morning, as seen in Lady Ainslie’s Dockwalk.
Rules coach Ian Williams engaged in a “robust exchange of views” with the umpiring team earlier—his second or third interaction with the panel since the controversial penalty against the British crew in yesterday’s Race 3.
We have included stern camera footage of the incident from yesterday’s report, showcasing how close the two AC75s came to collision.
The British argument is that they were pursued by the Kiwis. Both boats were executing rapid gybing turns. Reviewing the video, it’s evident both vessels turned sharply. Generally, the right-of-way boat cannot pursue a yacht making a genuine effort to maintain a safe distance. In this case, the Kiwis continued to engage in a gybe. The British contend that the Kiwis should have steadied their course at some point and crossed their transom. There is no proof of a straightened course. It is challenging to determine what actions the Brits could have taken. They had a right to take reasonable measures to avoid a right-of-way boat, which they did. While the near-miss aspect of the incident is very alarming, it should not influence the interpretation of the Racing Rules.
Sadly, there is a notable disparity between what crews perceived and what the officiating video footage (considering lens distortion) reveals, compared to the Umpires’ computer system, which recommended a penalty confirmed by the umpires. In reality, it’s usually easier for an umpire boat to assess the situation than for one analyzing a computer screen. However, performing on-water officiating proves impractical when chasing foiling AC75s in a powerboat during a seaway at speeds of 40-55 knots.
The off-camera retort from Ben Ainslie, stemming from a very provocative question posed by the lead TV commentator, has made headlines in mainstream media in New Zealand and Great Britain, overshadowing the race result.
“‘F—ing w—–’: Ben Ainslie lashes out at New Zealand commentator” read the headline in the Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk/sailing/2024/10/13/sir-ben-ainslie-swears-profanities-new-zealand-commentator, and a similar article appeared in the Daily Mail.
INEOS Britannia Dockwalk
Weather Forecast:
America’s Cup Weather Partner PredictWind has set up a dedicated Race Weather Center, providing fans with detailed daily weather analyses, live webcams, and historical weather data compiled by meteorologists.
Current Forecast Race Day 28:
Monday, October 14
Forecast for Monday, October 14 – America’s Cup Day 3
By midday, winds from the North-East/East will be established. Anticipate wind speeds increasing from 7 to 12 knots in the early part of the afternoon, shifting into a steadier Easterly breeze. Gusty conditions are possible as wind speeds build throughout the afternoon, increasing up to 15 knots in late afternoon.
The sea state will be half a meter from the East at a four-second period.
Skies will be cloudy, with temperatures reaching up to 25°C.
Course Location:
America’s Cup Race Schedule – Races 4: Monday, October 14, 2024
Race 4: Emirates Team New Zealand (Port Startbox entry) vs INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Starboard Startbox Entry) Start: 1415hrs CET
Virtual Eye
After the race, you can replay the key moments or the entire race using Virtual Eye from ARL. This is the tool that Inside Tack utilizes to illustrate various points using the actual tracks of the AC75s.
You can access the Virtual Eye America’s Cup coverage by clicking here and selecting “Watch Previous” to choose the race you want to view. Virtual Eye is a 3D viewer, allowing you to zoom in, out, around, and up and down as if in a helicopter.
Crew Lists
Additional Images:
