Series tied in Louis Vuitton Cup Final after another exhilarating day of competition
by INEOS Britannia 30 Sep 10:25 PDT
30 September 2024
INEOS Britannia vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on Louis Vuitton Cup Final Race Day 4 – September 30, 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
The Louis Vuitton Cup Final remains an incredibly tight contest as INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli conclude another race day on equal points. The British Challenger of Record, racing for the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, kicked off day four of the first-to-seven series with a victory over the Italian crew. However, Luna Rossa responded by clinching the second race win, leveling the score at three points each.
Team Principal and Skipper Ben Ainslie of INEOS Britannia remarked: “The racing is truly exciting! We have two exceptional teams performing admirably, but eventually, something will have to give. The team executed well today; we sailed our boat effectively, but Luna Rossa did a fantastic job in taking the lead in the second race and maintaining it. We didn’t make any mistakes; they just performed exceptionally well, and I expect it will continue in this manner.”
The initial race of Monday, marking the fifth in this fiercely competitive series, was determined in the starting box. This time, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli entered on port tack, while INEOS Britannia gybed to follow closely as the Italians crossed ahead. Luna Rossa once again steered towards the boundary, with the British team closely pursuing as both boats sped along the virtual edge before the Italians tacked back.
At that moment, INEOS Britannia surged ahead, sailing over the top of the Italian vessel to take the lead, but a miscalculation by Luna Rossa during their maneuver caused them to lose their foils. This resulted in an eight-second deficit at the start, giving the British crew a 90m lead at the first crossing.
The remaining legs showcased a masterclass in defending a lead during a match race. The British crew consistently protected the favored right side, sailing more freely with a strong lead, while applying pressure to the Italians when they closed in. The gap at the gate marks remained relatively stable throughout the early stages, widening to 11 seconds at gate four, before tightening again on leg five.
A significant slide by the British team while rounding the right-hand mark at gate six offered the Italian crew a glimpse of opportunity. They closely trailed INEOS Britannia before tacking away to exert pressure on the British team. At that moment, the distance was just 35m, but a brilliant series of tacks allowed Ainslie and his team to regain dominance, effectively blocking Luna Rossa each time they attempted to break away towards the boundary.
This was a classic, intense tacking duel, and as they approached the lay line, the British team had firmly reestablished control. They rounded the right-hand mark at gate seven with an eight-second lead, with the Italians in pursuit. The British vessel matched every gybe from the Italians on the final leg, crossing the finish line with a twelve-second margin, putting the score at 3-2.
The sixth race displayed a much more balanced start, with neither team able to assert dominance. They launched from the line with INEOS Britannia on the leeward side, slightly leading and forcing the Italians to tack away before hitting the boundary. The British quickly matched, keeping the pressure on, but it was now Luna Rossa gaining ground, steering towards the favored right side. The Italians reached the boundary with a 25m advantage upon tacking.
Ben Ainslie and his team executed a close leebow tack without incurring a penalty, but it turned out to be insufficient. Gradually, the Italian team gained control, holding their lead until the lay line, rounding the right-hand mark with INEOS Britannia four seconds behind.
Following that, the second race mirrored the first, with roles reversed. The British attempted every tactic available, but the Italians made no errors, and with a one-sided course lacking passing lanes, the anticipated result unfolded. For the third time, the Italians drew level in the series, this time at 3-3, finishing with a 17-second advantage.
Dylan Fletcher, Co-Helm of INEOS Britannia, stated: “Today really highlighted how closely matched these boats are in these conditions. The start determined the outcome. It will come down to minute details, and which team adapts, evolves, and performs well on the water. We feel optimistic; we learn something new every day, and our boat improves in speed daily, so we need to maintain our confidence and keep pushing forward.”
The Louis Vuitton Cup Final resumes tomorrow for Race Day 5. UK viewers can catch the live action on TNT Sports starting at 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST).
