Swedes Lead Invited Teams Group as Sail Team BCN Advances to Puig Women’s America’s Cup Semi-Finals
by America’s Cup media 8 Oct 08:29 PDT
8 October 2024
The Montjuïc mountain along with its famous ‘Castell’ overlooking Barcelona influenced the conditions on the third day of the Puig Women’s America’s Cup. Overnight storms transitioned into a westerly Atlantic current that wrapped around the iconic Barcelona feature, resulting in a challenging racecourse characterized by shifting winds and unpredictable puff patterns.
With high stakes among the Invited Teams from yacht clubs worldwide, the competition was intense, featuring a four-way tussle for podium positions and a chance to qualify for Friday’s Semi-Finals against the top three teams in the America’s Cup.
Achieving success required immense skill as the westerly winds fluctuated from 19 knots to near stillness, requiring the seventh race to be abandoned and rerun. It was a true test of sailing, and the world’s elite female sailors rose to this challenge.
Swedish Challenge powered by Artemis Technologies began the day ranked fourth after a lackluster performance in Sunday’s initial races, despite pre-event predictions of their success.
They demonstrated the significance of time spent practicing, achieving four straight race wins, displaying consistency, exceptional race strategy, and nearly flawless maneuvers in diverse conditions. Sweden ascended from fourth to first after a commanding victory in the second race and continued to pull ahead easily.
After the races, Vilma Bobeck, the starboard helm of the Swedish Challenge, expressed relief with their impressive showing, stating: “We really pulled everything together today and finally showcased what we’ve trained for all summer and what we’re capable of this week. There are still areas for improvement, but we’re looking forward to the semi-finals now.”
Reflecting on the conditions, Bobeck noted the differences that worked in Sweden’s favor, explaining: “It was quite tricky, with shifts and gusts. The varied wind conditions kept us alert. Keeping our heads out of the boat was definitely advantageous, especially since Julia (Gross) and I hail from a small lake in Stockholm that has similar conditions, making it feel almost like home!”
Behind the terrific Swedish team, the quest for the remaining two podium spots was fierce. The overnight leaders, JAJO Team DutchSail, showed steady improvement throughout the session, cementing their position for the Semi-Finals with consistent performances, while a heated battle unfolded behind them featuring Sail Team BCN and Team Andoo Australia.
Willemijn Offerman, port helm for JAJO Team DutchSail, expressed her pride in reaching the Puig Women’s America’s Cup Semi-Finals: “I am incredibly proud of our entire team, both on and off the boat; the support we felt was amazing. We’re thrilled to have progressed.
“We showcased our strengths, and our belief in ourselves was strong. The waves presented a challenge; wind shifts and wave angles made sailing difficult. We’re happy to have another day on the water later this week to see what results come from it.”
For the Australians, it was a challenging day. They struggled to find their rhythm and appeared inconsistent; at times they excelled but faltered in others. Sail Team BCN also faced challenges, but the local crew managed to perform when it mattered.
Entering the final race with a three-point edge, the Spanish crew knew nothing was guaranteed, especially given the skill on the Australian team. However, a dramatic match race unfolded on the last leg, and Sail Team BCN sailed outstandingly to clinch the final podium position.
María Cantero, trimmer for Sail Team BCN, was thrilled to reach the Semi-Finals but acknowledged the day’s difficulties in Barcelona: “It was a complicated day with lots of shifts and puffs. Points were closely contested amongst the teams aiming for the Semi-Finals, so we did well.”
“We’re eager for the coming days. The Semi-Finals have been our goal from the start, and though we’ve had little time on this boat, each day is a valuable learning experience, and we’re excited for what lies ahead.”
“Today was about connecting the dots and moving quickly to the next mark, and after some errors, our key was recovering swiftly, which we managed to do.”
Olivia Price, skipper of Andoo Team Australia, expressed disappointment in not finishing in the top three but appreciated the opportunity the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup provided: “This isn’t the result we hoped for, but it’s still worth celebrating, even if it hurts. It was an incredible experience, and I hope we can continue to grow both as women and as Australians.”
“Today was really challenging due to fluctuating pressures, and at times, we lost track of where that pressure was and how efficient our boat was. We didn’t achieve the standard we aimed for, but we were grateful to participate in such an amazing event, and we’re lucky to race alongside each other and not just against one another this time. I hope there’s more of that in store.”
Today’s schedule intended for eight races across two groupings was adjusted after the Concord Pacific Racing boat sustained damage from a nosedive before the second race, prompting the Race Committee to reschedule this afternoon’s Group A – America’s Cup Teams racing to Thursday, October 10.
Onshore at the Port Olímpic, home to the Puig Women’s America’s Cup teams, the atmosphere remained vibrant and colorful. The outstanding racing showcased thrills and spills, with speeds reaching over 40 knots and impressive maneuvers from the elite female sailors.
As the best teams rise to the occasion, the America’s Cup Teams of the Puig Women’s America’s Cup will examine the emerging talent from the Invited Teams group closely. The forthcoming Semi-Finals promise to be competitive – who will join Sweden, Netherlands, and Spain will be revealed on Thursday, October 10, as the Puig Women’s America’s Cup continues to captivate and amaze.
