Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Day 4
by Mark Jardine 16 Oct 05:41 PDT
16 October 2024
Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Race 5 – October 16, 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
A significant day in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. If Emirates Team New Zealand secures two more wins, they will reach match point. Any victory for INEOS Britannia will instill belief in a potential comeback.
The British team has been focusing on enhancing their speed during maneuvers, especially after observing the Kiwis seamlessly transition through tacks and gybes without losing momentum.
With light winds and substantial swell, unpredictability reigns.
Race 5: Emirates Team New Zealand vs. INEOS Britannia
Despite the weak winds, the race commenced as scheduled, with the Kiwis entering the starting zone from the port side. Both teams adopted different strategies, approaching the left boundary while Emirates Team New Zealand lost their foiling capability.
With winds barely over 6 knots, it was a prime opportunity for the Brits, who managed to sail over the New Zealand boat on two occasions, preventing them from foiling again.
INEOS Britannia got off to a flying start while Emirates Team New Zealand struggled to gain momentum.
For the Brits, maintaining foiling was crucial, while the Kiwis needed to find enough wind to chase effectively in the lightest sections of the course.
With a 1500-metre lead, Emirates Team New Zealand finally achieved foiling status. However, INEOS Britannia quickly rounded the first windward gate, seizing control of the race, while the Kiwis followed 2 minutes and 15 seconds behind.
For INEOS Britannia, rounding the leeward gate posed significant risk due to lighter winds at the bottom of the course. Many observers held their breath as the Brits executed their tack successfully amid challenging sea conditions.
Emirates Team New Zealand closed the gap to 1 minute 59 seconds at the initial leeward gate, reducing it further to 1 minute 37 seconds at the next windward gate, but barring an error, this would be inconsequential.
The wind gradually strengthened, prompting an extension of the course length for the final lap. For INEOS Britannia, this meant a lesser risk of losing their foils, but they continued to minimize maneuvers to avoid mistakes.
The Brits made no errors during the concluding lap, clinching victory by 1 minute 18 seconds and notching their first point in the America’s Cup Match, marking only Great Britain’s sixth win in the event’s history.
While it is too early to deem this a pivotal moment in the matchup, it significantly lifted team morale and brought joy to INEOS Britannia supporters.
Race 6: INEOS Britannia vs. Emirates Team New Zealand
To follow…
