Two additional race victories and a near-miss for INEOS Britannia on the second day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals
by INEOS Britannia 15 Sep 11:39 PDT
14 September 2024
A close encounter during Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs. INEOS Britannia on Day 2 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals – 15th September 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
Ben Ainslie on Day 2 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals – 15th September 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
INEOS Britannia, the British Challenger of Record representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd in the 37th America’s Cup, concluded the second day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final with two more victories against Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI).
The day commenced with a tense moment between the British and Swiss teams during the pre-start, where Ben Ainslie’s crew had to quickly maneuver to prevent a collision between the two AC75 boats. The British team remained composed and executed a slam gybe to accelerate across the start line. INEOS Britannia finished that race with a 2300m advantage, followed by a second race victory with a 1000m lead. With four wins out of four against Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the Brits need just one more victory to secure their position in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final.
Team Principal and Skipper Ben Ainslie stated: “At one point, I thought we might collide with the Swiss boat, but we managed to avoid it, and the crew did an excellent job keeping the boat up on the foils. We got ahead and sailed a good race, but it certainly provided some excitement. We’re pleased with our performance, but there are still areas for improvement, and we’re working hard to secure that final win.”
In that thrilling first race, INEOS Britannia entered as the port boat. After crossing Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s bow, the British crew rolled into a tack to engage again. The Swiss attempted the same maneuver, but their execution fell short, causing them to drop off the foils. Despite regaining speed in the strong breeze, Ainslie and his team seized the opportunity, and as the Swiss boat accelerated, they found themselves in INEOS Britannia’s crosshairs on the starboard tack.
Spectators held their breath as both boats gybed away at the last moment to avoid what could have been a high-speed collision. Ainslie and his team displayed exceptional boat-handling skills to maintain their speed. They quickly accelerated and hit the protest button, though no penalty was imposed. The Swiss boat nearly capsized during their gybe and fell back off the foils. At the start gun, the Swiss were slow and 200m from the line, while the gap widened to 1000m by the time they reached full speed, ultimately extending to 2300m by the finish. The margin at the first gate was 1 minute 19 seconds, and at the finish, it was 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
Conditions strengthened for the day’s final race, with the Swiss and British boats side by side at the start. However, INEOS Britannia found enough of an advantage to tack right in front of the Swiss, forcing them to turn at the boundary. The Swiss had no option but to tack back, and with little distance to the boundary, INEOS Britannia pressured Alinghi Red Bull Racing into a series of quick tacks on the left side of the course.
The gap widened, and eventually, the Swiss acknowledged their fate, trailing in the British boat’s wake across to the right side. Ainslie and his crew selected their path perfectly, rounding the left mark without needing another maneuver while the Swiss executed an extra tack to reach the right-hand mark, leaving them 15 seconds behind. The remainder of the race saw the British boat extend their lead on every leg, culminating in a victory margin of 48 seconds, achieving a 4-0 advantage in the first to five points series.
INEOS Britannia Co-Helm Dylan Fletcher remarked: “It was a fantastic battle with Alinghi at the start and on that first leg, but it was great to pull ahead in the second race. The conditions were excellent, and the team delivered an impressive performance. The first race was probably as close as you want to get with these boats—it was indeed intense, but it turned out well. We’re pleased to secure two wins and feel we’re in a good position, but our focus remains on the Semi-Finals.”
In the other half of the draw, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli also achieved a 4-0 record, defeating New York Yacht Club American Magic in both their Sunday races. The Italians faced a fierce challenge in the second race, with the Americans finishing just two seconds behind.
The third day of the Semi-Finals is set for Monday, with everything on the line, as the first team to win five races in each pairing will advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final scheduled from 26 September to 7 October. Racing will resume at 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST).
