Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

Louis Vuitton Cup- Fastest Louis Vuitton Cup Race ever sailed + Videos

by Richard Gladwell and John Navas on 8 Jul 2013
Rounding the windward gate - 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup, Round Robin 1, Race 1 John Navas

The first race of the Summer of Sailing got underway on time today in San Francisco, with Emirates Team New Zealand sailing an uncontested race.

Despite the no-show of Italian Challenger, Luna Rossa, the New Zealand team took the race as full on practice, entering the pre-start area at full pace ahead of the race set to be sailed over the 40 minute course.

After cantering around in the start box at speeds of around seven or eight kts, before accelerating in the final eight seconds to hit speed of 30kts as she crossed the startline.

The remainder of the race then evolved into the expected exhibition of high speed sailing against the backdrop of the San Francisco waterfront, executing several foiling gybes, in winds that were being called at 15kts before the start.

Upwind, sailing into the incoming tide, Emirates Team NZ hugged the san Francisco shore, dodging the tide, and providing the bayside spectators with a real spectacle as the 72ft wingsailed catamaran hit speeds estimated at 21kts, dropping down to 14kts in a tack.

Winds increased slightly on the second downwind leg with one spectacular moment as the weather hull lifted higher than usual, before the AC72 lifted onto her foils and took off at speeds of over 35kts in the puff.

Interesting point to note was how little variation there was in sheeting angle up and downwind, as the boatspeed climbed into the high 30kts average as they scooted downwind and the apparent wind came well forward.

Although the race lacked a second competitor, from a technical perspective the race provided a unique and sustained view of an AC72 sailing, including plenty of overhead helicopter shots, showing deck detail and crew manoeuvres during gybes and tacks.

In the latter stages of the race the wind increased to 16-18kts, with the AC72 doing in excess of the windspeed upwind - sitting on 20-22kts, going at 25kts as she neared the top end of the race course for the final time.

Given all the talk there has been over the past few weeks over safety, and also noting that this race was sailed in just under the new wind limit of 20kts for the Round Robin phase of the Louis Vuitton Cup, there was never the slightest suggestion of an untoward moment

Hitting speeds of over 40kts on the final reach to the finish and crossing the line at a speed of 37kts.

Despite having reduced camera coverage compared to the final races for the America's Cup, visually this was a spectacular demonstration of high speed sailing. The LiveLine graphics were not intrusive, as they are in the America's Cup World Series, and showed up well on the course and its backdrops.

Probably the shot of the day was seeing the AC72 foiling at speeds of over 30knots while in the background fans dressed in shorts stood on the grass banks of Chrissie Field just a few metres away. Nvere seen that before in an America's Cup Regatta - and there were a lot of things in even this one-boat race that have never been seen before.

The next race is scheduled for July 13 between Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand, with the Jury Hearing on applications by both teams set down for tomorrow.

















Allen Dynamic 40 FooterBarton Marine Pipe GlandsRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Registration open for Annapolis to Bermuda Race
A2B covers 753 nm from the heart of the Chesapeake Bay to the island paradise of Bermuda The organizing committee of the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (A2B) is pleased to announce that registration for the 2026 edition of this iconic offshore sailing event sponsored by Mustang Survival is officially open!
Posted today at 2:42 pm
North launches new Wingfoil Race Collection
Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace. Engineered with a VMG-optimised partial double skin for improved aerodynamic efficiency, lower drag and precise manoeuvres at higher speeds.
Posted today at 10:35 am
AEGEAN 600 Attica Warm-Up Race
5th edition sets sail with strong winds and signature Greek hospitality Under perfect sunny skies and brisk northerly winds, the 5th edition of the annual AEGEAN 600 kicked off with a flawless start both on and off the water.
Posted on 4 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D5
Stage set for Finals showdown in Marstrand With just one day to go at the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, the stage is set for a thrilling finale in both the Open and Women's classes.
Posted on 4 Jul
Sam Goodchild in the Course des Caps
The final phase is full of potential pitfalls Sam Goodchild, the British skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance who has been dominating the IMOCA round Britain and Ireland race since the start of the third day, says the goal now is to focus on the complex finishing section.
Posted on 4 Jul
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 2
Light breeze, boat park buzz and big wins off the water >Day 2 brought lighter winds to Lake Garda, but the energy around the event stayed sky-high.
Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead.
Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again?
Posted on 4 Jul
International Moth Worlds begin this weekend
Pre-Worlds are under way at Malcesine From 6 to 13 July 2025, the 2025 Moth World Championship officially gets under way, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine and preceded by the Pre-Worlds on 4 and 5 July. The event marks the culmination of three weeks entirely dedicated to foiling.
Posted on 4 Jul
K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup."
Posted on 4 Jul