Emirates Team New Zealand Defends the 37th America’s Cup
by David Schmidt 22 Oct 08:00 PDT
October 22, 2024
Emirates Team New Zealand wins the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
The 37th America’s Cup concluded with a decisive finish-line difference of 37 seconds. In the first-to-seven series, the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ), representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, showcased their superior speed, sailing skills, and tactical prowess, securing the Auld Mug for the third time in a row. Notably, ETNZ’s 7-2 victory over the Challenger of Record, INEOS Britannia, representing the Royal Yacht Squadron, marked a historic achievement—the first successful defense of three consecutive America’s Cup matches in 41 years.
(Note: Although the San Diego Yacht Club secured three consecutive victories [1987, 1988, 1992], they did so with two distinct sailing teams: DC’s Stars & Stripes and Bill Koch’s America Cubed.)
Throughout AC37, ETNZ displayed dominance from the outset of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta, where they recorded four wins and just one loss, followed by the Louis Vuitton Cup Double Round Robin, where they achieved eight additional victories against only two losses.
While NYYC American Magic secured the first win against the Defender during the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta, both INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli managed to take wins against the Kiwis in preparation for AC37.
The Brits eliminated the Italians in the Louis Vuitton Cup, leading to a matchup between the Defender and the Challenger of Record at the start of AC37.
The competition quickly intensified as the Kiwis won the first four races. Speculation arose regarding the likelihood of a shutout for the Challenger of Record, but the Brits retaliated, winning Races 5 and 6.
Suddenly, it felt like a legitimate contest, only for the Kiwis—steered by Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge—to assert their dominance again, winning Races 7 and 8.
Match point.
The concluding race of AC37 was arguably one of the most thrilling of the entire Cup cycle, not merely for its stakes. Despite the contrasting designs of the two teams’ yachts and foils, the racing was fiercely competitive. The Kiwis controlled the early stages of the contest, but by the halfway point, the Brits had made a comeback.
Ultimately, however, the right side of the course was yielding better results than the left, and the Kiwis were not willing to share this advantageous territory.
“We got a relatively even start, they were quite close, so we just decided to head out to the right, which we preferred; I’m really pleased with how we continued to improve throughout the week—the boat felt fantastic today, and it was truly a team effort,” Burling stated about the final race in an official communication.
“Full credit to Ben and INEOS Britannia; they mounted an incredible challenge, pushing us all the way. We gained an early lead on the scoreboard, but every race felt like a real contest, and they were exceptional challengers,” Burling added.
Although Sir Ben Ainslie, team principal and helmsman of INEOS Britannia, expressed disappointment, his words suggested he was far from finished with future Cup endeavors.
“To fall short at the final hurdle is always challenging, but we recognize that we’ve competed against one of the best teams, if not the best team in the Cup’s history,” Ainslie communicated officially. “We must accept that, and I believe the team has done a brilliant job evolving throughout this campaign. As a very determined Brit said, it’s the resolve to continue that counts, and that’s our focus moving forward.”
Predictably, the Royal Yacht Squadron was the first to formally challenge for the 38th America’s Cup, once again claiming the title of Challenger of Record for AC38. INEOS has indicated their support for this initiative as well.
Regarding the location of AC38, discussions remain unsettled.
This year’s Cup cycle brought significant excitement for global sailing fans, but 2024 promises more metaphorical fireworks, with the Vendée Globe Race—a solo round-the-world challenge—set to commence on Sunday, November 10, off the coast of Les Sables-d’Olonne, France.
May the four winds guide you safely home.
David Schmidt
Sail-World.com North American Editor
