A win, a loss for the British on the third day of the America’s Cup preliminary round regatta
Some relief for the British and French camps as both teams finally have a race win on the scoreboard on day three of the America’s Cup preliminary regatta – and what else we learned on day three of AC75 racing
The third day of racing in the 37th Pre-Regatta for the 2024 America’s Cup began today in Barcelona with 11 knots, providing solid foiling conditions for the AC75 monohulls. Conditions are forecast to improve briefly during the afternoon, but then ease again.
Emirates Team New Zealand, American Magic, Alinghi Red Bull Racing and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli won the first two days of the America’s Cup preliminary race, while neither INEOS Britannia nor Orient Express Racing Team scored any points. There’s no doubt that the pressure is mounting for these teams – how will they cope with Day 3?
Key findings from the third day of the America’s Cup pre-regatta
- INEOS Britannia wins a race and demonstrates improved speed before the wind
- Rudder damage at American Magic – Reliability remains an important factor for the AC75
- Boundary penalties thwart INEOS Britannia in the second race of the day
- The Italians seem to have the most complete package among the Challengers
- Kiwis continue to appear dominant and confident
INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli start the third day of the America’s Cup preliminary round regatta. Ian Roman / America’s Cup
Skippers
Alinghi Red Bull Racing: Arnaud Psarofaghis and Maxime Bachelin
INEOS Britannia: Ben Ainslie and Dylan Fletcher
In the opening race of Day 3, INEOS Britannia went into the pre-start confidently despite yesterday’s difficulties with its AC75. INEOS Britannia had the best start and led Alinghi across the finish line. Immediately, helmsman Dylan Fletcher could be heard talking about getting on the right hand side, which has proven time and again to be the preferred side in these conditions in Barcelona.
In the first real speed race of this pre-regatta, both boats seemed evenly matched on the first beat. Alinghi pushed INEOS off and took the favoured right hand side, while the Brits opted to protect their boat’s speed and moved to the left hand side of the course. When the two boats rejoined, Alinghi tacked ahead but INEOS took the right hand side with a touch more speed – would we see the top spots of the regatta swap?
INEOS actually managed to fight back to the lead as the first mark was rounded and managed to pull away slightly, allowing Alinghi to close in on the downwind gate. On each upwind leg they gained a few hundred metres, and on each upwind leg Alinghi tried to reduce their lead again. But in the end the Swiss team was 30 seconds behind.
What did we learn from Race 9 of the America’s Cup preliminary round?
The main takeaway from this race for British fans will be that INEOS Britannia have found a little more speed, especially against Alinghi. INEOS Britannia coach Rob Wilson noted during a mid-race chat that while the team’s boat speed looks good now, they are looking to make some improvements upwind.
We have no idea what might have been said in Wilson’s debrief last night, but Ainslie and Fletcher started today fighting and sailed smartly. Communication between the two sounded clear and confident – for example, when they discussed whether to cover Alinghi or take the preferred layline, there was no panic even though the team desperately needed a point on the scoreboard. “A little better,” was Ainslie’s understated reply.
The race was also one of the closest we have ever seen – at least in the early stages – with places changing on the first leg and the boats so evenly matched that a single small slip in the boat’s handling could have given the advantage.
Sail choice is also becoming an increasing factor – with a changeable breeze forecast for INEOS Britannia today and two races to go, the British boat has opted for a smaller mainsail than the Swiss. There are also some notable differences in the headsails between the teams – something that will no doubt be endlessly refined in the coming weeks.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing is chasing the best on the third day of the America’s Cup preliminary round regatta. Photo: Ricardo Pinto/AC37
Race 10: American Magic vs Orient Express Racing Team
Skippers
American Magic: Paul Goodison and Tom Slingsby
Orient Express Racing Team: Quentin Delapierre and Kevin Pepponet
Almost immediately after entering the starting box, American Magic began experiencing technical problems. Helmsmen Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison said they had “lost the rudder”. The US team quickly gave up and the race was abandoned, allowing the French to take their first win.
What did we learn from Race 10 of the America’s Cup preliminary round?
As desperate as the French have been to get a point on the scoreboard, they probably haven’t tried it this way. After a series of starting disasters, the French need a real race to measure themselves against the other AC75s.
For the US team, it is unclear how serious the problem might be – we have seen minor electrical and mechanical failures from some teams over the past few days, but there was a fairly loud bang on the video feed, suggesting that something physically broke patriot – Helmsman Goodison said they suddenly lost control of the rudder pitch. The reliability of systems and components is likely to be a significant challenge for the challengers who will have to keep their AC75s running in a long series.
Rowing problems on the American Magic on the third day of the America’s Cup preliminary round regatta. Photo: Ian Roman / America’s Cup
Skippers
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli: Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni
INEOS Britannia: Ben Ainslie and Dylan Fletcher
It was a big challenge for the British team – they were up against one of the strongest teams. Could they maintain the positive momentum from their victory in the first race today?
Unfortunately, things didn’t start so well as the Brits were given a penalty for a fraction of their bowsprit in the pre-start. The two boats had an even start with INEOS Britannia narrowly in the lead. The Brits then tried to clear their pre-start penalty (in metres) in low mode but were given a second penalty for the limit in the early stages of the first leg.
They were flat-footed from the start and were 200m behind halfway through the first leg. As Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli stretched ahead, spectators were treated to the return of the Spithill-Bruni pair, while the Italian co-helmsmen calmly discussed tactics in their characteristically relaxed communication style. The Italians won by 46 seconds.
What did we learn from Race 11 of the America’s Cup preliminary round?
This is a pre-regatta and the first real opportunity for the teams to test elements such as looking at the virtual limits while under the pressure of staying on course with another boat. However, the Brits will be deeply frustrated if they make unforced errors and there is no room for such errors once the points really start counting.
With no battle between the boats in this race, all eyes were on the relatively high boat speed. And one positive thing the British can take from this otherwise disappointing race is that their downwind speed seemed to protect them from further major losses on the upwind legs.
After the race, Dylan Fletcher commented: “That was definitely a bitter pill to swallow – we thought we were safe there (at the barrier) but obviously our gap wasn’t big enough.
“After that we were quite happy with our start because we had beaten the Italians at that point. But then it got tough because we were on the wrong jib and got the early penalty.”
The Italians, meanwhile, continue to look in a class of their own, their boat displaying a fast, wave-skimming manner, while the partnership between Bruni and Spithill – the longest of any co-helmsman in the Cup – seems to have only improved with time.
Defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand put in a strong performance on the third day of the America’s Cup preliminary round regatta. Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
Skippers
Emirates Team New Zealand: Pete Burling and Nathan Outteridge
Alinghi Red Bull Racing: Arnaud Psarofaghis and Maxime Bachelin
Arnaud Psarofaghis will look back fondly on that start of the race. He held his nerve against the defenders and forced them to push to the other end of the line. The Swiss had the better starting position at the start, but the Kiwis quickly demonstrated their superiority by turning right in front of the Alinghi team and forcing them to the left side of the course in the early stages of the first leg.
From then on, it was all over for the Swiss, ETNZ was able to extend its lead on each stage as the breeze died down.
What did we learn from Race 11 of the America’s Cup preliminary round?
This is not a new observation: but Emirates Team New Zealand continues to show that it will be very, very difficult to beat. They have won every race they have entered and they sound ominously relaxed – it is hard to imagine that the New Zealand boat has much more left in the tank.
This race showed that there is opportunity if a challenger can catch them before the start – and with the fate of so many races decided halfway through the first beat, an early advantage could put the defending champions on the back foot. But Emirates Team New Zealand’s boat speed and boat handling ensure that once they have the upper hand, they don’t give it up.
Follow all our coverage of the America’s Cup 2024
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