Britannia on the verge of America’s Cup final after ruling rough seas to twice beat Luna Rossa

Thursday, 3 October 2024

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Britannia are on the verge of the America’s Cup match race for the first time in 60 years after jumping to a crucial, two-point lead in their tight challenger final with Luna Rossa.

The streak of four deadlocked days was finally broken as the British team moved 6-4 ahead in the first-to-seven decider in Barcelona on Thursday (NZ time).

One more win, with racing resuming on Saturday (NZ time) after a welcome rest day, will clinch the Louis Vuitton Cup and give the British challengers the prized opportunity to take on Team New Zealand in the Cup’s match race from October 12.

Britannia ruled the rough seas on the fifth full day of their back-and-forth contest with the Italians, who will need three victories in a row to avoid elimination.

The significance and scale of Britannia’s two wins under gloomy Spanish skies was evident onboard their boat after navigating a minefield of scattered, rising waves with composure and control.

The INEOS-backed team, owned by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have placed the weight of investment on the British team to win the Auld Mug for their nation for the first time.

The last British challenge in the Cup’s match race was in 1964 when the Sovereign team lost to American syndicate Constellation in Newport, Rhode Island.

After crossing the line in another close contest to finish a choppy day, skipper Sir Ben Ainslie said they had proven a point to sections of the Italian media, who had implied that Britannia could only win if things were going their way, referring to Luna Rossa’s mishaps with their AC75.

Ainslie’s co-helmsman, Dylan Fletcher, yelled “yes, lads” as they went 6-4 ahead, a rare emotional outburst among the British crew. It appears they are a nose ahead of Luna Rossa after 10 intense races where there has been almost nothing to separate them.

“It’s fantastic, but we’re still thinking about the day and what mistakes we made. We’re pushing forward and seeking perfection,” Fletcher said.

Britannia won the first race for the fourth consecutive day, then converted their chance to go two points ahead at a critical time after excellent defence to keep their lead, with the determined Italians in hot pursuit.

The margins have been so tight that one error has effectively decided each race, giving the point to the other boat. Britannia were almost faultless in rocky waves and difficult, windy conditions of almost 20 knots.

“It was difficult for the boats to regain control,” Fletcher said.

“You're giving up lots of [correcting] moments where you can keep the boat above the water.”

Both teams had their scares. Remarkably, neither came off their foils.

Britannia struck in race one after Luna Rossa’s near-splashdown, moving 5-4 in front, before gaining a narrow lead in the start of race two which they maintained, despite a few hairy moments in the final legs when their boat almost touched down.

They are tantalisingly close to the joining the Kiwi Cup defenders in Barcelona’s main event. It’s up to the valiant Italians to fight back to deny Britannia their shot at history.

No British team has won the Auld Mug since the defending Royal Yacht Squadron lost to the famed New York Yacht Club in the Cup’s first edition by the Isle of Wight in 1851.

“We’ll expect a strong response, as ever,” Fletcher said of Luna Rossa.

“They’ve bounced back well from a few setbacks. They’ll come out firing, but so will we.”

Here’s how the day’s racing unfolded. There was a higher wind forecast than anticipated of 15-20 knots in a messy sea state.

Race two

Luna Rossa changed their gib, the front sail, increasing its size in the hope of handling the rough seas with greater control, but it was in vain.

Lunging towards the start, the two boats were dancing and weaving across their lines to gain an advantage and Britannia moved into pole position in the first of eight legs.

With changing leads a rarity in Barcelona, the British crew knew this was a golden opportunity to move within one victory of the Cup’s match race against the Kiwis.

Britannia were 12sec ahead at the halfway stage and streaking clear for the final push, but they almost plunged down after losing their rudder.

The boat speeds dropped to less than 40 knots and Luna Rossa were catching up, albeit needing a Britannia mistake to complete a dramatic pass.

The British team’s defence was solid enough for the final leg downwind, with the speeds up, and they held their nerve to claim a 6-4 lead.

Race one

The choppy waves made conditions difficult, even with racing beginning on time. Britannia were stuck behind Luna Rossa ahead of the pre-start after attempting to nudge ahead.

The British protested, but there was no penalty. The Italians were in front, then Britannia, and they were skimming past one another in diverting across the course, both battling to stay on their foils and hit high speeds of more than 40 knots.

Hulls were brushing the waves and Britannia had a 2sec lead through the first gate, extending it to 12sec at the next mark.

Luna Rossa were having greater struggles with their manoeuvres and were getting more desperate in chasing the British boat.

They almost splashed down in the fifth leg and just remained on their foils, but they lost crucial speed and the race was Britannia’s to lose.

The British were also on the brink of a blunder but completed another dicey final turn to regain the lead (5-4) in the opening race for the fourth day in a row.