Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 1
by Mark Jardine 12 Oct 14:53 UTC 12 October 2024
Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Race 2 - October 12, 2024 © Ian Roman / America's Cup
The first day of the America's Cup Match is a day of reckoning. The Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, who we haven't seen in competition since the Round Robin stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup, against the battle-hardened Challenger, INEOS Britannia, who came through the epic Louis Vuitton Cup Final against Luna Rossa.
Will one team have a speed advantage over the other? Will the Kiwis' new foils give them the edge? Will the Formula One team at Mercedes have added more to the British boat, keeping them on the improving performance trajectory they've shown throughout the racing in Barcelona?
Broadcast
The wingwash graphic, showing the dirty air coming from the lead boat, improved significantly and was very useful. Increased use of VMG (velocity made good), was superb, showing us how the different modes were resulting in higher or lower speeds towards the next mark. We got to see the trimmers and flight controllers more on board, which added variety and showed how hard they are concentrating.
Race 1: INEOS Britannia vs. Emirates Team New Zealand
After 40 minutes of anticipation-filled delay, waiting for the breeze to come in, we were under way.
There were huge differences in wind strength across the race course, so staying in the pressure, avoiding the holes, was paramount.
Emirates Team New Zealand entered the start area on time, but INEOS Britannia were very late, apparently due a battery issue in the pre-start, so the Kiwis tacked in front of them, trying to delay their entry. Both boats they gybed away with the British tailing the Kiwis.
Both boats lined up high, with the New Zealand team ducking to make the line at the pin end, while the British were far closer to the other end. From the off, Emirates Team New Zealand pulled out a 50 metre advantage, with both boats tacking at the same time.
On the first upwind leg the Kiwis kept a close cover on the Brits, gradually extending their lead to round the first windward gate 24 seconds ahead.
The Brits went for an early gybe into more pressure, reducing the deficit slightly, clawing back nine seconds on the downwind leg.
On the second upwind leg the Kiwis gave the Brits zero breathing space, matching them tack for tack, in classic match racing style, extending their lead to 36 seconds.
Seeing Nathan Outteridge continually watching for breeze showed how his strengths have benefitted the Kiwi team. The 'Wind Whisperer' has legendary wind spotting ability, and his communication with his team-mates was superb. By the second leeward gate their lead was 40 seconds.
As the breeze dropped a little, Emirates Team New Zealand continued to keep their elbows out, not giving INEOS Britannia an inch, extending their lead to 56 seconds at the third windward gate.
The Kiwis made no mistake on the final downwind leg to take the first point of the 37th America's Cup match with a 41 second victory. An ominously clinical performance by Emirates Team New Zealand.
Race 2: Emirates Team New Zealand vs. INEOS Britannia
Following on from the Puig Women's America's Cup Final, it was back to action for the Kiwis and the Brits.
Emirates Team New Zealand came in from high on the final approach to the line, with INEOS Britannia slightly early, but able to force the Kiwis to tack away at the start.
The early gains were made by the British as they approached the port boundary while the Kiwis had to take two extra manoeuvres, but at the first reengagement INEOS Britannia had to duck Emirates Team New Zealand, but too close for the Kiwis to tack on them.
At the next cross the Kiwis were ahead by 36 metres, and rounded the first windward gate eleven seconds in the lead, splitting choice of marks.
The British boat sailed into more pressure on the left, looking downwind, and the two teams were bow to bow on the first cross, with INEOS Britannia taking the lead. Emirates Team New Zealand retook the lead though in the same band of pressure on the left, rounding the first leeward gate nine seconds in the lead.
Once again, it was INEOS Britannia who went across to the pressure first, but Emirates Team New Zealand maintained enough of a lead to tack directly in front of the British boat, forcing them to tack away.
With the wind dropping the jeopardy of falling off the foils was becoming a real possibility, so both teams were working hard on tacking in the puffs and looking for the pressure. The Kiwis managed to extend their lead to fourteen seconds at the second windward gate.
Downwind INEOS Britannia made a nice gain in pressure on the right, looking down the course, with just 7 to 8 knots of wind now. Coming into the second leeward gate there were just 50 metres separating the boats. Interestingly, the stats showed the British boat had slightly better VMG both upwind and downwind.
Emirates Team New Zealand sailed a superb third upwind leg, with both Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge looking around continuously for the best breeze, rounding the third windward gate 28 second in the lead, extending to 32 seconds by the third leeward gate.
The Kiwis weren't feeling charitable, getting into position to cover the Brits on the final upwind leg and rounding the final windward gate 33 seconds in the lead.
They made no mistake on the final downwind leg to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Emirates Team New Zealand port side helmsman Nathan Outteridge summed it up succinctly with, "Nice way to start."
