Marginal winds return to Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain (October 6, 2024) – It was a day of pure grit and determination as the Group B Invited Teams of the Women’s America’s Cup got four races completed on a tricky Barcelona racetrack.

After a short delay for the wind to arrive, racing got underway in marginal conditions. The first race was decided on the last downwind, with Team Andoo Australia starting the leg in the lead, closely followed by Sail Team BCN and Swedish Challenge powered by Artemis Technologies. As the bottom of the course approached, the wind shut down and final gybes to the finish line off the boundary laylines were nervous affairs with the Australians and Spanish both agonisingly falling off the foils.

Sweden were the ultimate beneficiaries after managing to stay foiling for longer than the others and following some clever positional work and precise sailing they dramatically crash-gybed off the foils as they crossed the line to score first blood.

With the wind filling and starting to oscillate, the second race saw Team Andoo Australia really show their class. Having secured the lead at the first windward gate, after reading the shifts on the right side of the course up the first beat accurately, they extended quickly and never really looked back over the rest of the race.

Leading at one point by over 1,000 metres, Olivia Price and Laura Harding brought the Australian boat home supremely to win at a canter. Behind them, Sail Team BCN scored vital points in second, with JAJO Team DutchSail following up in third.

What we then saw over the next two races was a masterclass of starting, fleet-racing, and AC40 technique from the Dutch team – helmed by Odile van Aanholt and Willemijn Offerman. Despite limited time in the boat, they proved their outstanding sailing talent by winning third race after a hard-fought battle with Sail Team BCN and then stretched away in the fourth and final race to build a commanding lead good enough for them – despite a late charge from Andoo Team Australia – to take their second win of the day.

The back-to-back race wins by JAJO Team DutchSail puts them at the top of the standings on 27 points, closely followed by Sail Team BCN helmed by Silvia Mas and Neus Ballester in second on 24 points. Team Andoo Australia sit in third place on 23 points, but these three podium teams will all be aware of the threat of the fourth placed Swedish Challenge powered by Artemis Technologies crew who are breathing down their necks with 21 points.

Odile van Aanholt, skipper of JAJO Team DutchSail came off the water, delighted with how the team sailed: “Sailing the AC40 is already the biggest gift you can get, and such tight racing. We had to keep our eyes out because there was a lot of windpuffs and sometimes only eight knots at the bottom of the course and 13 knots up top – so a lot of changes, but we kind of like those.

“We made a good progression today so we are very happy. We celebrated on the water today like there’s no tomorrow, just with all the happy vibes and because we take every win when we can. We’re just happy to be here and happy to sail this boat. I think we’ll take the same game plan as we had today into tomorrow.”

Talking about what it feel like to be competing in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup, van Aanholt added: “It’s super cool. It’s dawning on me more and more how special it is. I think I feel very lucky that I’m born in this generation where I get this chance. On the other hand it’s quite frustrating that it has taken this long.

“In Optimist sailing you can see that when there’s no physical advantage, girls can do just as well as boys and in Olympic sailing I also feel very well treated and we’re definitely equals. I think in big boat sailing, when physical attributes are of no importance why not?

“I also get why not because we’ve never sailed these foiling boats so I think it’s great we’re getting this opportunity now and it’s all about closing that gap towards the men. I feel we should only get the opportunity when we’re really good enough.”

With the potential for strong wind and big wave conditions later in the week, the Race Committee have announced a change in the schedule, bringing forward Group B’s scheduled four races on October 9 to tomorrow.

Format: Twelve teams are split into two groups of six for an initial fleet race series in the AC40s. The top three teams from each side after eight races will race together in four fleet races to decide the top-two crews and from there it’s a one-race, winner-takes-all for the title.

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