Cup Spy - Day 21: Louis Vuitton Cup - British become Challenger for first time in 60yrs
by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 4 Oct 2024 11:29 PDT
INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - Louis Vuitton Cup - Final - Race Day 7 - October 4, 2024 © Ian Roman / America's Cup
Louis Vuitton Cup Finals - Day 7 or Day 21 of the Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup.
The Royal Yacht Squadron took another step towards winning the America's Cup, with an end-to-end race in Race 11 of the Louis Vuitton Cup to secure the Challenger Selection Series by 7pts to 4pts.
The Italian challenger representing the Circolo della Vela Sicilia had their fate all but sealed when they dropped two races on Thursday. The Brits' task was to win one of the three remaining races, which they achieved on their first opportunity.
Today's race was like all the others that went to completion in the Final—there was no change in the outcome after the two would-be challengers had rounded Mark 1. Often, there was only a couple of seconds margin as they rounded the crucial mark—even though the two AC75s often rounded opposite gates and then took off down opposite sides of the often eight-leg course.
Friday's forecast was for lighter breezes than the 12-15kts that prevailed for much of the race. That caused a bit of discussion within the teams as to the correct choice of the jib, with the Italians opting for a bigger sail than the British.
INEOS Britannia opted for some unusual tactics before the start, working out windward and sailing in a circle around the starboard start mark in an effort to try and get control of the start. However, they broke that off, did a nip and tuck to get inside the starboard start mark, sailed a perfectly timed final reach down the start line, and crossed on gunfire, hitting 40kts with Luna Rossa upwind and behind sailing at 35kts. Slowly, as the Italians picked up speed, they dropped onto the exhaust; they were forced to tack away and head for the starboard (right-hand) side of the course. The British duly covered with the lead now out to over 60 metres and started doing the business.
At Mark 1, the British were 10 seconds ahead, around the starboard gate, coming in from the starboard side of the course and effectively doing a nuanced 270 degrees around the mark, while the Italians approached in from the same side from 150 metres back, roared around the opposite mark at 50kts, and took off down the port side of the course. But it was not enough, and at the next cross and for most of the race, the margin was around 200-300 metres.
Italian hearts started fluttering on Leg 5 when the two boats split tacks after Luna Rossa opted to do a 270 degrees around the starboard gate and went to the starboard side.
It needed to be clarified what the Brits were thinking, but it was the Italians' time to take a few risks—and they did. When they closed tacks for the first time, they had made some inroads into the British lead, but when they converged again, there was less than a boatlength in it.
There wasn't much variation in wind strength, with the breeze sitting at a steady 15kts and direction 206 degrees —208 degrees. Both AC75s rounded the same starboard gate at Mark 5, but the margin was down to 4 seconds or just 22 metres, and it seemed as though, for the first time in 11 races, there might be a mid-race lead change.
But it was not to be as the Brits steadily eased away to a lead just short of 10 seconds for the next two marks and to stretch out to 17secs, or 300metres, at the finish.
For the Brits, the win in the Final was a monkey off their backs, and the country that gave what was to become the America's Cup got the first opportunity in 60 years to win it back.
The departure of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli from the Louis Vuitton Cup marked the end of a 24 year, eight campaign involvement for their skipper, Jimmy Spithill. The Australian has sailed for his native country, Italy and USA, winning the 2010 and 2013 America's Cups.
Final - Match 11: INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Port Startbox entry) vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Starboard Startbox Entry) Start: 1215hrs UTC
Mark 1: 03m 31sec GBR led ITA by a margin of 10sec
Mark 2: 06m 29sec GBR led ITA by a margin of 09sec
Mark 3: 10m 21sec GBR led ITA by a margin of 11sec Luna Rossa has closed up on beat - close to a lead change
Mark 4: 13m 20sec GBR led ITA by a margin of 7sec
Mark 5: 17m 23sec GBR led ITA by a margin of 4sec
Mark 6: 20m 16sec GBR led ITA by a margin of 8sec
Mark 7: 24m 05sec GBR led ITA by a margin of 9sec
Mark 8: 26m 46sec GBR led ITA by a margin of 17sec
Friday October 4, 2024: Race Schedule - Finals Matches 11 and 12:
- Final - Match 11: INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Port Startbox entry) vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Starboard Startbox Entry) Start: 1215hrs UTC
- Final - Match 12: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Port Startbox Entry) vs INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Starboard Startbox entry) Start: 1315hrs UTC
Virtual Eye
After the racing you can replay the key points, or the whole race using Virtual Eye from ARL by clicking here and click on "Watch Previous" then select the race you wish to view. This s 3D viewer so you can zoom in, out, around and up and down just like you could in a helicopter.
Course Location:
Weather Prognosis:
America's Cup Weather Partner PredictWind has provided a dedicated Race Weather Center offering fans access to detailed daily weather breakdowns, live webcams and historical weather data to daily weather breakdowns written by meteorologists.
Friday October 4, 2024: Race Schedule - Finals Matches 11 and 12:
- Final - Match 11: INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Port Startbox entry) vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Starboard Startbox Entry) Start: 1215hrs UTC
- Final - Match 12: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) (Port Startbox Entry) vs INEOS Britannia (GBR) (Starboard Startbox entry) Start: 1315hrs UTC
Current Forecast Race Day 21:
Friday Oct 4, 2024
In the morning, the offshore wind will blow from the North-West. By mid-day the wind will die out and will struggle to build from the South as usual. In the afternoon, we expect light and variable winds around 5 knots.
It will be a sunny day but with colder temperatures up to 21 degreesC; which is no favourable for thermal wind development.
Saturday 5th
In the afternoon, winds from the South-West around 6 to 8 knots are expected a bit stronger than the previous day. Clear sky with temperatures on the rise.
By Arnaud Monges, Former America's Cup Team Meteorologist
Virtual Eye
After the racing you can replay the key points, or the whole race using Virtual Eye from ARL This is the tool that Inside Tack are using to demonstrate various points - using the actual tracks of the AC75s.
You can go directly to the Virtual Eye America's Cup coverage by clicking here and click on "Watch Previous" then select the race you wish to view. Virtual Eye is a 3D viewer so you can zoom in, out, around and up and down just like you could in a helicopter.
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