TeamOrigin take 1851 Cup beating America's Cup Defender

by TeamOrigin Media on 7 Aug 2010
Ben Ainslie and the crew of TeamOrigin have won the 1851 Cup, sailed off Cowes, Isle of Wight in a celebtration of events that led to the America's Cup competition.

On this the fourth day of racing, both teams appeared to have their aggression glands fully open going into today’s third race.

In the pre-start Ben Ainslie at the helm of TeamOrigin did a fine job shovelling James Spithill’s BMW Oracle Racing crew well beyond the right side of the start box and the starboard tack layline back to the committee boat. As a result both boats were late for the start line, but it allowed TeamOrigin to cross ahead by one to two boat lengths.

Straight into the first beat and the two boats wasted no time in engaging in a tacking duel, with BMW Oracle Racing behind and only managing to shake TeamOrigin's cover by successfully pulling off a dummy tack. This saw the American team heading off to the left and the British to the right. However the right side benefitted TeamOrigin which further up the beat crossing ahead of BMW Oracle Racing to take the left. Heading into the weather mark on the port layline they rounded 18 seconds ahead.

The British boat’s lead was enough for them to be out of reach of the Americans on the run, although with the wind rising, a significant ebb tide now flowing across the course and a giant container ship bearing down on them, there was caution all around.

TeamOrigin rounded the leeward gate safely and the two boats engaged in a tacking duel up the second beat that saw BMW Oracle Racing close on them. However rounding the top mark for the final time in the strong wind TeamOrigin set their spinnaker successfully but seconds later when BMW Oracle Racing tried this same manoeuvre they didn’t manage to get the halyard fully up and when the spinnaker set its foot dropped into the water pulling the sail down with it and causing them to sail over it.

Following this disaster for the American team it was game over and Ben Ainslie and the TeamOrigin crew cruised to victory both in the race, also winning them the 1851 Cup with a 10-4 score.