History is made: INEOS ends 60-year wait and first Women’s America’s Cup begins
INEOS Britannia emerged as the top Challenger and secured its place in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match, where the Brits will face the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, with racing beginning on 12 October.
It is over 60 years since Great Britain competed for the America’s Cup trophy in the final match and INEOS, led by Ben Ainslie, had to fight off tough competition from the vastly experienced challenge of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
Going into Friday’s races, the British had to win one race to take them through to the Match while Luna Rosa needed to win two races to keep their cup dreams alive.
Louis Vuitton Cup Final, race day 7. Image courtesy of Ian Roman / America’s CupThe final scoreline of the fiercely contended Louis Vuitton Cup 7-4 does not reflect just how close this 11-race duel between the top two challengers really was. Over the first eight races there was nothing to separate the two yachts, but on the final two days of the series, INEOS Britannia found the boat positioning and speed to eke out the smallest of performance advantages that proved enough for them to win three straight races.
The America’s Cup is the world’s oldest international sporting trophy, which began in Britain with a race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. Despite its origins, Britain has never won the America’s Cup, but Ben Ainslie and his crew are now one step closer to ending 173 years of hurt. The Brits will begin battling Emirates Team New Zealand in the first-to-seven series on 12 October.
Following the race, INEOS Britannia team principal and skipper, Ben Ainslie, said: “This is a massive day for our team. I want to say how proud I am of not just those on the water, but also all those back on shore in Barcelona and also back in the UK in Brackley helping us on the technical side. I’m so pleased for everyone, for all of our fans and supporters – it’s a massive moment. We started this team ten years ago when Britain wasn’t in the America’s Cup and it took a lot of people to come in and support us. We have the amazing support of Jim Ratcliffe and his team at INEOS, and I want to say a massive thank you to everyone that has supported us as a team and British sailing in general, this moment’s for you.”
Puig Women’s America’s Cup
History was made on the following day as well, when the first ever Womens’ America’s Cup got under way.
The Puig Women’s America’s Cup event marks the first-ever women’s competition in the storied 173-year history of the America’s Cup, the world’s oldest international sporting competition.
Excellence was on display with the finest female crews representing the officially entered America’s Cup teams contesting four hard-fought opening races in Group A racing the AC40s.
Puig Women’s America’s Cup, race day 2 – Group B. Ricardo Pinto / America’s CupThe standings at the end of the day show Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli as the team to beat, leading by four points over second placed Athena Pathway who have a handy gap of 11 points to Emirates Team New Zealand in third. The fight for the all-important podium places in Group A will continue on Tuesday 8 October with all six teams knowing precisely what they need to do to progress in this competition.
Group B took to the race course yesterday for a day defined by brilliant racing, grit and determination.
Surely, one of the toughest series to win – with Group B split by just six points from first to fourth place –and in a fleet where literally every team is in with a shout of taking race wins, the fight for a spot in the semi finals is going to be intense throughout this eight-race series.
Matt Sheahan, PlanetSail, reports from all the action:
Odile van Aanholt, skipper of JAJO Team DutchSail came off the water, delighted with how the team sailed, saying: “Sailing the AC40 is already the biggest gift you can get, and such tight racing. We had to keep our eye out because there was a lot of windpuffs and sometimes only 8 knots at the bottom of the course and 13 knots up top – so a lot of changes, but we kind of like those.”
“It was a really special day for the history of women’s sailing and for our team to be on this stage,” says Ali Ten Hove, Concord Pacific Racing’s port helm. “We could not be more proud to represent Canada and take a step forward for women’s sailing. It was amazing to make history with the team.”
Talking about what it feel like to be competing in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup, van Aanholt adds: “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.”
Group A standings after race four
1. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Women’s Team (ITA) 33 points
2. Athena Pathway – Women (GBR) 29
3. Emirates Team New Zealand Women’s Team (NZL) 18
4. Alinghi Red Bull Racing Women’s Team (SUI) 15
5. Orient Express – L’Oréal Racing Women’s Team (FRA) 11
6. NYYC American Magic Women’s Team (USA) 6
GROUP B STANDINGS after race four
- Jajo Team Dutchsail | 27 points
- Sail Team BCN | 24 points
- Andoo Team Australia | 23 points
- Artemis Swedish Challenge | 21 points
- Concord Pacific Racing | 12 points
- Team Germany | 6 points
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