All even again at Louis Vuitton Cup Final

Barcelona, Spain (September 29, 2024) – From too little wind yesterday to a lot more today, the Louis Vuitton Cup Final had INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on standby prior to racing today as a solid Mediterranean ‘Garbi’ breeze pushed above the stipulated 21-knot upper wind-range.

Eventually the breeze settled, allowing the two teams to battle at high speed, but only after the first race of the day was gifted to INEOS Britannia when Luna Rossa was unable to race as a number of batten breaks in their mainsail had pierced the carbon fibre material of the port skin.

The only call the Italians could make was to drop and replace the mainsail and they brought their Chase Boat team in to facilitate the change. However, this was right at the time that the Race Committee’s wind sampling dipped below 21 knots, and the opening race of the day was called as ‘live.’

INEOS Britannia duly set up for their start whilst Luna Rossa sat bare-poled on the far-right hand side of the course. As the British entered the starting box, Chief Umpire Richard Slater, disqualified the Italians for receiving outside assistance and awarded the race win to Sir Ben Ainslie’s team.

Further drama ensued an hour later, when, with the wind continually tripping over the wind-limit for the day’s second race, technicians boarded ‘Britannia’ to look at a batten issue low down on their J5 jib. Eventually the call was made to partially drop the sail to remedy the issue.

With the series now 2-1 to the British team, fireworks were expected from the Italians in the next race – the fourth of this first-to-seven-points series – and a slow entry into the starting box from the port end by Luna Rossa was the beginning of a high-pressure race that challenged the sailors to the limit.

INEOS Britannia entered on time from the starboard end at close to 48 knots and immediately set about hunting down Luna Rossa, forcing the Italians to take avoiding action out on the left side, before a long trail back across the starting box with the British close behind on their leeward hip.

With time ticking down and Luna Rossa approaching the right boundary, they went for a bear-away and gybe across the British bow, which INEOS Britannia tried to block and were quick to protest. This – the first of several protests from the British during the race – was dismissed by the Umpires.

Off the start line, Luna Rossa held the very slightest of advantages – but it was enough to establish a lead that they never lost over the eight-leg race.

The first two laps saw constant nip and tuck skirmishing between these two very equally matched boats, with INEOS Britannia always the aggressor, positioning their AC75 in awkward leeward positions upwind and appealing unsuccessfully to the Umpires on several occasions as they fought to deliver the ‘get-behind’’ penalty that would have elicited an immediate 75-metre gain.

The advanced telemetry in use means Umpire decisions are based on accurate and indisputable data – although this did little to lessen the audible frustration of the British afterguard.

Despite Luna Rossa building what looked like a comfortable lead by the end of the fifth leg, the British continued to chip away at the Italian lead. At the final windward gate, they had clawed their way back to within six seconds as the two crews began the last downwind leg.

Now within striking distance, the British went full on the attack, but Luna Rossa covered smartly and intelligently to maintain their lead and crossed the line at nearly 50 knots, just four seconds ahead of the chasing British, to level the Louis Vuitton Cup Final series at two races apiece.

“It was an awesome race, just a full-on street fight and we love that sort of stuff, it was a lot of fun,” shared Jimmy Spithill, starboard helmsman for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. “It’s just great for the team to be under that sort of pressure that sort of stress and load, because you need to be able to go through that as a team.”

Both teams are now even again at 2-2, with two more races tomorrow in conditions expected to be again at the upper wind limit.

Viewing details – Race information – Results – Weather forecast

Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, 2021, the AC75 Class Rule and AC Technical Regulations were finalized on March 17, 2022. The entry period was from December 1, 2021 until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup could be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender was to announce the Match Venue on September 17, 2021 but postponed the reveal, finally confirming Barcelona on March 30, 2022. The 37th America’s Cup begins October 12, 2024.

Teams revealed to challenge defender Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
• INEOS Britannia (GBR)
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI)
• Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA)
• NYYC American Magic (USA)
• Orient Express Racing Team (FRA)

2023-24 Preliminary Regattas
September 14-17, 2023 (AC40): Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
November 30-December 2 (AC40): Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August 22-25, 2024 (AC75): Barcelona, Spain

2024 Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series*
August 29-September 9: Double Round Robin
September 14-19: Semi Finals (Best of 9)
September 26-October 7: Finals (Best of 13)

*Team New Zealand competes in the round robin stage only, but the results of their races were not included in the challenger leaderboard.

2024 America’s Cup
October 12-27: 37th Match (Best of 13)

For competition details, click here.

Additionally, 12 teams will compete in the Youth America’s Cup and Women’s America’s Cup.

Noticeboard: https://ac37noticeboard.acofficials.org/
Event details: www.americascup.com/en/home

Source: ACE, Scuttlebutt