America's Cup teams sparkle on opening day of Puig Women's America's Cup

The start of racing in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup felt like the start of a whole, new and exciting chapter in the story, not only of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, but also for women’s elite sport. 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.

After a dock-out at the Port Olímpic that was full of colour and noise from the teams and their supporters, even featuring a stirring send off by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the Auckland-based Māori tribe, the sailors exited the port to make history on the waters of Barcelona.

Nerves, understandably, were on display in the opening race with half the fleet bunched up in poor air at the starboard end of the start area, whilst Athena Pathway and Emirates Team New Zealand thundered down the starting line in unison to start well ahead and establish the early front-running.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was the first of the chasers and the Italians soon showed their pace, overtaking Emirates Team New Zealand after a poor tack mid course from the Kiwis. However, at the first windward gate the Italians fell off the foils in a light spot and steep chop – losing several places and putting them in catch up mode for the rest of the race.

After two quick laps, with all the teams fighting to stay on the foils as the unstable Garbi wind fluctuated around 7-9 knots, GBR stayed ahead and recorded a one-minute-and-19-second win over Emirates Team New Zealand, with Alinghi Red Bull Racing storming into third after a close tussle with NYYC American Magic throughout the race. Luna Rossa snatched fourth on the final run after the Americans came off the foils.

The second race of the day felt marginal from the start with several boats falling into displacement mode as the start clock ticked down the final minute. Once again Athena Pathway made the best of the start and stole an early lead with Alinghi Red Bull Racing giving chase, but the fickle wind gods were about to dictate the outcome.

With the breeze starting to transition to a new direction and becoming increasingly unstable, at the first leeward gate the entire fleet fell off the foils and it was the luck of the draw who would get back flying first. Luna Rossa and Athena Pathway were the first to get airborne out to the left and stormed into a big lead whilst Alinghi Red Bull Racing gave chase.

Luna Rossa stormed to victory and crossed the finish line after two laps, just as the wind clocked round further to the east and upturned the podium order as Alinghi Red Bull Racing overtook a displacement mode Athena Pathway, before both boats ghosted across the line, with the Swiss celebrating stealing second. Ultimately the race was stopped for the remaining boats as the wind transition filtered up the course and points were awarded according to the teams' positions at the final windward gate.

After a short delay as the shifting wind filled and settled, the resulting conditions were some of the most challenging for AC40 racing seen so far here in Barcelona.

With the wind gusting up to 18 knots and a nasty, unpredictable swell, the talent rose to the top with helmswomen Giulia Conti and Margherita Porro on Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli putting the hammer down and emerging from the pack through consistent sailing to take the win and steal the lead in the series. Their race was especially hard-fought having been off the foils a minute and a half before the gun and then, having regained flight, thundered down the course at 41 knots to start late, but in contention.

The early front-runners were Athena Pathway, Emirates Team New Zealand and Orient Express L’Oréal Racing Team who, as a pack, headed to the right of the course. The Italians went left and forced their way into the leading group and then down the first run were the big winners as Athena Pathway copped a boundary penalty and then splashed down.

From there, Luna Rossa were never headed and scored a dominant win, sending it down the final downwind leg to the finish at speeds in excess of 40 knots to score the full 10 points and take a one-point lead over Athena Pathway in the series overall.

The final race of the day was a thriller from start to end. Luna Rossa hit the start line midway along and at pace, whilst Athena Pathway started unopposed at the starboard end of the line having led the fleet back from the right boundary of the pre-start box. This was a clash of the titans and early advantage went to the Italians who had to dig deep upwind against the hard-charging and high-pointing British team helmed by Hannah Mills and Tash Bryant.

At the first gate it was Athena Pathway who bore away with a nine-second lead, but down the first run the Italians lit the after-burners out on the left of the course, before gybing in on starboard to assume the lead to leeward and ahead of the British. It was a lead they nearly lost on the final upwind leg but a gutsy split out to the left of the course – whilst the British stayed right – sealed the deal and Luna Rossa brought it home at speed in big seas to win by 13 seconds.

Behind the top two a thrilling battle ensued for the final podium spot, with Orient Express L’Oréal Racing Team executing a bold perfectly timed gybe on the bow of Emirates Team New Zealand, and just managing to control the boat’s yaw and speed afterwards before bearing away across the line to seal third place [see top image]. Outstanding sailing.

Giulia Conti, skipper of Luna Rossa came ashore after an historic day at the Puig Women’s America’s Cup saying: “It was amazing. At the beginning it was pretty tricky conditions with the wind going on and off, but then when the wind started to build it was still tricky, very shifty, with a lot of waves. We are just incredibly excited to make history with these super-amazing ladies from all over the world.”

Looking at the closeness of the racing, Conti added: “We felt had a little bit more speed downwind and a little less upwind (than Athena Pathway) but it was definitely tough. It was pretty wavy, a little choppy, and the waves were crossed so I have a little bit of neck pain because of all the movement inside the cockpit – definitely not the flat water we had in practice racing. And we think we had top speeds of 44 knots plus on the bear-aways – we didn't really think about that, we just wanted to stay in front of the group.”

Hannah Mills, skipper of Athena Pathway talked through the team’s approach, saying: “We had a bit of everything and as for the tactics for the day we just tried not to have any ‘own goals’ as we call them, not make any big errors, and just keep it as simple as we could and stay in the game.”

Talking about how she and the rest of the team felt about competing in the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup, Mills added: “I think everyone is just relieved. It feels like we've been talking about this for so long and to actually be here today I think probably a lot of nerves and excitement for everyone so, yes, it's just good to get the regatta rolling.”

Liv Mackay, helmswoman for Emirates Team New Zealand, exuded real passion for the opening day of what was an outstanding advert for women’s sailing, saying: “It was an epic first day of racing here. I think overall the conditions were pretty challenging out there in the waves - classic Barcelona - but the offshore breeze fighting with the sea breeze was really challenging in that second race. I thought that as a team and coming into the environment, we’ve learnt so much throughout the day. It's super-close and just an unbelievable first day and, honestly, we’re on a bit of a high.”

On a day where the best female sailing talent in the world shone, Mackay reflected on the goals for the event saying: “I really don't think it's a skills gap. It's just experience and time in the boat. I think the last race in those conditions we felt confident, fully trusting and solid as a team. It's an incredibly special day, just docking-out and realising the significance of it all, I actually got really emotional before we were docking out and I feel really proud to be part of Emirates Team New Zealand. There's a few people within the team that have put so much on the line for this, and it's game changing for women’s sailing.”

The 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 October 8 with all six teams knowing precisely what they need to do to progress in this competition.

The Puig Women’s America’s Cup delivered spectacular action on its opening day. The experience gap is being bridged super-fast by some of the finest female sailors on the planet and the racing is electric to watch for the crowds of fans who gathered at Port Olímpic to cheer on their team.

With more to come tomorrow – Sunday October 6 – when the first four races of Group B’s Invited Teams are scheduled, the competition at the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup is set to get white-hot. This is simply unmissable, first-class, outstanding racing action with the city of Barcelona providing the pitch-perfect Autumn backdrop.