INEOS Britannia Claims Victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup
by Mark Jardine 4 Oct 05:59 PDT
4 October 2024
This might be the last day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, or we may require one more race.
With INEOS Britannia at Match Point, the British team needs only one race win, but if Luna Rossa claims victory in both races today, we’ll face a decisive final race.
It’s the Challenger of Record taking on last year’s Louis Vuitton Cup champion, with the score currently at 6-4 heading into today’s events.
The forecast predicted winds of 6 to 9 knots, yet the teams discovered 12 to 14 knots on the race course, witnessing significant shifts and lulls. It’s tough to determine which team these conditions would benefit, given their similar boat speeds at this stage.
Race 11: INEOS Britannia vs. Luna Rossa
With no delays, the racing commenced immediately. INEOS Britannia entered the starting area right on schedule, with Luna Rossa approaching from starboard and gybing onto their tail, but the British team opted for their usual tack and gybe, becoming the pursuers and gybing in front of Luna Rossa, who then headed higher.
Interestingly, the British used a smaller jib than the Italians, opting for a J3 compared to Luna Rossa’s J2.
The British team gained more speed off the line towards the pin, hitting nearly 40 knots compared to Luna Rossa’s 36 knots, which gave them a 40-metre advantage, prompting the Italians to tack away.
When Luna Rossa tacked, INEOS Britannia executed a flawless leeward tack, with the Italians trying to duck into the dirty air, ultimately needing to tack again and losing significant distance. At the next intersection, the British team had opened a 90-metre gap, forcing Luna Rossa to tack away once more.
At the first windward gate, INEOS Britannia had a lead of ten seconds, with the two teams rounding different buoys.
Ben Ainslie and Dylan Fletcher of the British team sounded composed and confident downwind, while Jimmy Spithill and Checco Bruni from the Italian pair appeared somewhat more restrained than usual as the lead grew to over 200 metres. Nevertheless, Luna Rossa managed to cut the deficit to nine seconds at the first leeward gate.
During the second upwind leg, INEOS Britannia maintained a loose cover on Luna Rossa, aiming to minimize the impact of shifts and lulls, and successfully covered them on their final tack into the second windward gate, holding an 11-second lead as they again selected different marks to round.
Upon re-engagement, the British team opted to cover the Italians once more, reducing risk. Luna Rossa reduced the gap to 7 seconds at the second leeward gate.
The Italians rapidly closed the distance to just 60 metres, and tension became evident in Ben Ainslie’s voice as he urged his crew to regain their composure, but the lead had shrunk to 35 metres when INEOS Britannia crossed Luna Rossa on port.
The British team caught a small windshift on the right, allowing them to tack directly atop the Italians, rounding the third windward gate just four seconds ahead. It was an intense battle.
Calmness returned to INEOS Britannia’s voices on the downwind leg, where they slightly extended their lead at the third leeward gate. The British team then pressured Luna Rossa by repeatedly tacking above them. There was little margin for error as the lead hovered below a hundred metres.
Approaching the final windward gate, the British team opted for a tack bear away, while the Italians continued, rounding nine seconds behind. The choices favored INEOS Britannia as they caught more pressure on the left and gybed on Luna Rossa’s course, leading by 150 metres.
INEOS Britannia executed an excellent final gybe into the line, crossing to clinch the race victory, thereby winning the Louis Vuitton Cup Final 7-4.
They are the first British team to reach the America’s Cup Match since 1964, and the emotion aboard was palpable, blending cheers with relief.
The Louis Vuitton Cup itself was transferred by RIB to be presented to the team on the water.
INEOS Britannia will now face Emirates Team New Zealand in the 37th America’s Cup Match.
