INEOS Britannia returns to competition after clinching two race victories in the 37th America’s Cup Match
by INEOS Britannia 16 Oct 10:37 PDT
16 October 2024
INEOS Britannia and Emirates Team NZ – Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Race Day 4 – October 16, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Race 6 – October 16, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
INEOS Britannia, the British Challenger of Record representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, has won two races against Emirates Team New Zealand in the ongoing 37th America’s Cup Match.
This double victory brings the score to 4-2 in favor of the Kiwis in the first-to-seven series. INEOS Britannia is the first British team to participate in the America’s Cup Match in 60 years, marking the first instance in 90 years since a British team scored points in such a match.
Ben Ainslie, INEOS Britannia Team Principal and Skipper, remarked: “The team’s solid performance today under challenging conditions led to two wins. It was a collective effort to achieve performance improvements. We have a long journey ahead, and we must continue to strive for better results. Each day we enhance our sailing skills, thanks to the shore team providing us a dependable package, along with the designers, technicians, and engineers guiding our performance improvements, and of course, our sailing crew executing on the water.”
The first race of the day, marking the fifth of the series, commenced in light winds and challenging sea conditions. Emirates Team New Zealand struggled with the tricky circumstances, losing their foils during a pre-start maneuver intended to avoid the British team. They veered downwind, attempting a gybe, but at a slower pace than desired, which allowed the British yacht to position itself favorably. Though it may not have altered the outcome, it certainly subdued ETNZ’s speed as they sought to regain lift. With the light breeze, it was tough for the Kiwis to take off again, while INEOS Britannia capitalized on the opportunity by sailing directly in front of ETNZ’s AC75, leaving them in turbulent air.
As INEOS Britannia sailed away, the New Zealanders struggled to lift off the water. It took them over two minutes to achieve full flight, and by that time the British team was nearly a leg ahead. The only potential change in outcome would hinge on a mistake from the British side, but with flawless sailing and efficient maneuvers, they maintained their lead. INEOS Britannia crossed the finish line with a one minute and thirty-eight seconds lead, marking the largest margin of victory in the Match to date.
An exceedingly tense second race began with improved conditions, boasting 11 to 12 knots of wind, although the difficult sea state persisted. The Kiwis tried a defensive strategy during the pre-start to block the British team, but INEOS Britannia succeeded in maneuvering past ETNZ to take the lead at the start. While they were closely aligned at the start, INEOS Britannia was notably faster, hitting 10 knots compared to the Defenders.
Leading at the first cross, the race was significantly tighter than the previous one, with ETNZ trailing by only six seconds at the first gate. By the third gate, INEOS Britannia extended their lead slightly, finding favorable downwind conditions to increase their advantage to sixteen seconds by the fourth leg.
In the race’s latter stages, ETNZ began to make a comeback. In leg six, the gap reduced to just six seconds as the Kiwis found a better wind lane. The final leg was a nail-biting experience for British fans, as ETNZ closed the gap following challenging maneuvers by INEOS Britannia. Their 130m lead at the beginning of the final leg shrank to just 40m at one point, but the Brits held firm and finished first with a seven-second margin.
Leigh McMillan, INEOS Britannia Trimmer, commented: “It feels fantastic to secure these two wins. Emirates Team New Zealand has set a high standard, but we’re feeling like we’re catching up now. We’re eager to return on Friday and keep the pressure and momentum up.”
Racing in the 37th America’s Cup Match will continue on Friday, featuring two more races. UK viewers can watch all the action live on the Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com homepages starting at 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST).
