INEOS Britannia ‘will continue to fight’ as Kiwis aim for match point in the 37th America’s Cup Match
by INEOS Britannia 18 Oct 13:07 PDT
18 October 2024
Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Race 7 – October 18, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
Ben Ainslie after Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Race 8 – October 18, 2024 © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com
INEOS Britannia, the British Challenger of Record racing for the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, faced a tough day in Barcelona as the 37th America’s Cup Match shifted to 6-2 in favor of Defenders Emirates Team New Zealand.
The Kiwis secured both race victories on Friday by choosing the best wind conditions across the course in challenging circumstances. It’s now a do-or-die scenario for the British Challenger, as the Kiwis are on match point, requiring just one more victory to claim the America’s Cup trophy for the third consecutive time.
INEOS Britannia Team Principal and Skipper Ben Ainslie remarked: “It wasn’t a good day for us. The Kiwis managed to capitalize on the shifts and did an outstanding job of defending, putting us in a difficult position. We must accept these setbacks, but it’s not over; we’ll continue to fight. The team has persevered throughout this competition, overcoming challenges to reach this point. History shows that there have been remarkable comebacks in the Cup, and we know we have a fantastic team and a great boat.”
INEOS Britannia received enthusiastic support from large crowds as they set sail on Day 5 of the Match. Download the image here. The first race on Friday, the series’ seventh, proved to be a challenging one for the British team. INEOS Britannia excelled in a highly dynamic pre-start, crossing the start line ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) at greater speed. However, the advantage shifted back to ETNZ as the wind favored them on the right side of the course. Both teams navigated to the boundaries, and upon their first cross, New Zealand tacked in front of the British boat, pushing them back to the left side. At the top of the course, Ben Ainslie and his team identified a favorable shift and recovered some lost ground, but at the first gate, ETNZ rounded the left mark with a 12-second lead.
The British team chose to round the opposite gate, and with a further wind shift to the right, both vessels were nearly heading towards the second gate momentarily. Ainslie and his crew managed to find enough latitude to pursue their own race, and the New Zealanders made no gains at the bottom of the course.
It was the third leg where ETNZ began to pull away, with the breeze now consistently favoring the right side of the racecourse. The New Zealanders dominated that section, leaving the British crew with only unfavorable options. By the third gate, the Kiwis had increased their lead, ultimately finishing the race with a margin of one minute and 13 seconds.
In the series’ eighth race, Emirates Team New Zealand started slightly quicker than INEOS Britannia. The British team tacked to the right, but by the first crossing, ETNZ was ahead. The Kiwis opted for the right side of the course where the wind conditions were superior, leading to a 15-second advantage by the first gate.
During the second leg, slight damage to the rudder from the first race caused ventilation and a touch-down just before INEOS Britannia’s first gybe. This impacted the British team’s speed and distance, allowing the Kiwis to extend their lead to 460 meters. Emirates Team New Zealand’s lead fluctuated over the next few laps, but they identified beneficial wind shifts on leg seven. This doubled their lead, enabling them to win race eight and bring the Match score to 6-2.
Ainslie commented: “We did encounter an issue with the rudder, but I don’t believe it affected the outcome. It’s something we need to analyze and find a way to prevent in the future. Despite today’s results, the team is in a strong position; we realize there are no second chances and that we must win every race. However, the team remains positive, and they are ready for the battle, no matter how long it takes.”
Racing will continue on Saturday starting at 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST), and UK spectators can watch live on Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com homepages.
