Team NZ win the America’s Cup making three-in-a-row
Sunday, 20 October 2024
Stuff is the official broadcast partner of the America's Cup 2024. Watch all races live on stuff.co.nz/americas-cup, as well as on Three and ThreeNow.
Team New Zealand have won a thrilling race to clinch the America’s Cup in Barcelona, beating INEOS Britannia 7-2 – its third consecutive Cup regatta.
The pair were dead even at the halfway mark, but the defender made big gains on the final leg to notch up a 37-second victory, with a cry of “Yes!” heard from Taihoro.
“It's been a big dream for a long time - so awesome to be here with every moment and achieve it,” said helmsman Nathan Outteridge just minutes after crossing the line.
The skipper of the unsuccessful British challenger, Sir Ben Ainslie, was generous in his praise.
“In my view they are the best team ever in the America’s Cup,” said Ainslie.
“It's been a hell of a road through this even to get to this finals and we had our moments in the finals, but at the end of the day, the better team won,” he said.
Ainslie wouldn’t comment on whether he would be onboard in the next campaign, and said while his main funder Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanted to stay involved, it might also mean finding additional new backers.
Hours earlier there was a nervous and uncertain start to the day, with some doubts as to whether a race would be possible.
After a 40-minute delay for wind to build, Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia engaged in aggressive manoeuvring in the start box. The British got a narrow edge across the start-line.
Team New Zealand tacked right as the challenger took the side it wanted, but the defender’s helmsman Nathan Outteridge declared: “We’ve actually done all right here, guys.”
Peter Burling’s crew crossed narrowly in front, and just as in the previous day’s two races, managed to steadily build a lead to more than 200 metres heading to the first mark.
From a 19-second lead at the first mark to 22 seconds at the second, Team New Zealand appeared to be in control.
However on the second leg, INEOS Britannia picked up a big windshift: “They left the door open very slightly,” the challenger’s coach Rob Wilson told the television commentary.
At the halfway mark the lead had evaporated and the two boats went around separate marks dead even.
Burling’s crew edged back out to a 12-second lead by the fourth mark and then defended what they thought was better wind on the right hand side of the course.
From a 17-second lead at the turn into the last leg, Team New Zealand extended to a 37-second win.
“An amazing feeling,” said the skipper Peter Burling, who has helmed all three of the team’s consecutive victories.