Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 3

by Mark Jardine 14 Oct 2024 05:55 PDT 14 October 2024
Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Race 4 - October 14, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup

A one-race day in Barcelona, after the wind dropped below the minimum limit on Sunday after race 3.

The feeling is that it could be pivotal. A win for the Kiwis would put them 4-0 up, whereas if the Brits could put their first point on the board then it would change morale within the team and give them momentum in the game.

Race 4: Emirates Team New Zealand vs. INEOS Britannia

Racing started on time in 11 knots of wind.

In the pre-start we saw INEOS Britannia tail Emirates Team New Zealand after entry, then choosing to tack when the Kiwis gybed, putting them high on the approach, looking to keep it clean with a time-on-distance battle.

The Brits came off the line slightly quicker at the committee boat end, with the Kiwis 100 metres to their left. At the first boundary tack, INEOS Britannia tacked perfectly on Emirates Team New Zealand's lee bow, forcing the Kiwis into a double tack to clear their air.

At the first cross the British team made it hard for the Kiwis, forcing them to make a bigger duck than they'd like. At the next engagement it was Emirates Team New Zealand who executed a perfect lee bow tack, sending INEOS Britannia into a tack to the windward mark.

At the first windward gate there was nothing to separate the boats, rounding opposite marks at exactly the same time.

On the first cross downwind, Emirates Team New Zealand were ahead and dialled up INEOS Britannia, leading Ben Ainslie to protest, with no penalty given.

At the next cross, with the Brits on starboard, the protest button was pressed again, but the Kiwis were well ahead.

At the first leeward gate Emirates Team New Zealand were three seconds ahead and we were being entertained with the best race of the America's Cup Match.

The Kiwis benefitted from a nice right shift on the second upwind leg to eke out an 80 metre lead, bouncing the Brits out to the left on each tack, extending slightly every time - Burling and Outteridge once again proving to be superb match racers once ahead.

The cyclors were worked to the absolute limit in the tacking battle, with Emirates Team New Zealand rounding the second windward gate thirteen seconds ahead, with both teams choosing the same mark.

Listening to Burling and Outteridge calmly discuss tactics and wind was again enlightening. How they remain so calm, working in perfect harmony showed the strength of this awesome pairing, each 49er Olympic gold medallists and Moth World Champions.By the second leeward gate the lead was extended to fifteen seconds.

The third upwind leg saw the Kiwi's "keep their foot on the throat" of the Brits, as Emirates Team New Zealand coach Ray Davies put it. They simply weren't giving INEOS Britannia any opportunities whatsoever.

At the final windward gate the Kiwis led by 24 seconds, with the Brits choosing the opposite mark to try and find an opening, but that's hard to do when your opponent is sailing faultlessly.

Emirates Team New Zealand went on to win by 23 seconds and move to 4-0 on the overall scoreboard.

A glimmer of hope for INEOS Britannia is that this was a closer match, and the speeds looked relatively even, but time is running out to turn this one around against an awesome Kiwi team.

Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling said after the finish, "Every win on the board is obviously a super nice one, but it felt a lot more like a boat race today than the one yesterday. Nice to keep marching forward and feels like we're improving a lot as a group as we go through these races. I'm excited to keep pushing forward."

INEOS Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie added, "It was a good race, a good start, and we got the first cross, but they're just going well, going really well, so for us it's just a matter of trying to figure out how we can make some of these performance gains to take it to 'em."

Races 5 and 6 will be held on Wednesday 16th October.

Related Articles

America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted on 29 May
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 26 May
America's Cup: Big changes in crew line-up
Women and Youth crews to sail in AC75 in the next Cup - Final Draft of AC38 Protocol Historic changes are proposed in the Final Draft of the Protocol released by the America's Cup Defender. For the first time a Female and Youth crew members will be part of the six-crew lineup on board the all-electric AC75s. Posted on 23 May
America's Cup: The Blitz of Statements
Various parties associated with the America's Cup released statements calling for more transparency Various parties associated with the America's Cup released statements calling for more transparency in the America's Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand responded by releasing what is tagged as the Final Draft of the Protocol. Posted on 23 May
America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ respond
Emirates Team New Zealand has responded to the statements sent overnight (NZT) Emirates Team New Zealand has responded to the statements sent overnight by two Challenger teams calling for more transparency in the negotiations over the Protocol and venue for the 38th Match. Posted on 22 May
NYYC American Magic team statement
Concerns over transparency and cooperation necessary to secure a fair Protocol Over the past seven years, we've competed with pride, purpose, and perseverance in two editions of the America's Cup. It has been an honor to represent the New York Yacht Club and the United States on the global stage. Posted on 22 May
Athena Racing concerned over 38th AC transparency
Around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027 Athena Racing, representing Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd. as Challenger of Record for the 38th America's Cup, is concerned by the ongoing lack of transparency around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027. Posted on 22 May
America's Cup: Part 2 - No Excuse to Lose
The last race of the (63+254i) America's Cup has begun where tension deepens and strategy sharpens The last race of the (63+254i)th America's Cup has begun. Earth's syndicate, led by the New York Yacht Club, faces off against the Thalassocratic League of Deniau in a final match — winner takes all. Posted on 18 May
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignHenri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER