Puig Women’s America’s Cup starts with a bang

The Puig Women’s America’s Cup, a first in America’s Cup history, delivered on all expectations today in Barcelona with some cracking AC40 racing action.

Group A- the America’s Cup teams, lined up for four fleet races in a light, tricky and variable 7-11 knot wind and a slight sea swell which demanded maximum accuracy from the best women sailors in the world.

There was a stirring and emotional send off by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei beside a large and loud contingent of Kiwi friends and family for the Emirates Team New Zealand crew of Liv Mackay, Jo Aleh, Molly Meech and Gemma Jones as they left the Port Olímpic dock.

It was a hard-fought day for the Kiwi team, fighting for every vital place in each of the four races, finishing in 3rd place overall behind the impressive Italian and British teams who earned a jump on the fleet at the half way point of the eight scheduled qualification races.

Emirates Team New Zealand finished with 2nd, 4th, 3rd and 4th respectively in the four races of the day equating to a 3-point buffer over fourth placed Alinghi Red Bull Racing.

PUIG WOMEN'S AMERICA’S CUP RACE REPORTS:

RACE 1:

In near-perfect conditions of 6-10 knots albeit with a swell running, the first fleet race gets underway with GBR and NZL starting clear ahead of the pack down at the port end of the line as the rest of the fleet bunched up at the starboard end and came in late.

ITA start at the starboard end and immediately tack right to the boundary. GBR, ITA and NZL lead out to the port boundary and at the first gate, GBR leads in on the port layline before tacking for the port marker and lead as ITA fall off the foils on their rounding and fail to re-pop.

GBR build a big lead with NZL attempting to close the gap but at the first leeward gate enjoy a lead over 500 metres and 58 seconds. Good battle for third with USA and SUI neck and neck all the way down the run going gybe for gybe with USA just ahead. 

GBR keep it simple up the beat, minimising manoeuvres and going boundary to boundary to round the final gate, punching into the off-axis swell with a lead over NZL out to 1 minute and 16 seconds. On the final approaches to the windward mark, USA falls off the foils and SUI sail through to third.

Down the final run, no mistakes from GBR with smooth execution, they win the first ever race of the PUIG Women’s America’s Cup and score 10 points. NZL finish second to win 7 points and SUI finish in third for 5 points. ITA recover from last place to secure fourth. USA in fifth and France in sixth.

RACE 2:

All the teams stay high above the line with two minutes to go, and several boats falling off the foils but at the start, despite being in displacement just moments earlier, GBR regain flight and fast start with only SUI in contention to leeward. Both boats spot wind to the right side of the course and head over as FRA and ITA give chase after starting slowly.

In the swell, the tack from port onto starboard is tough with the waves cruelly washing speed off but both GBR and SUI survive scares to continue up the course. GBR round the first gate at 38 knots with a 24 second lead over SUI with FRA just behind and ITA and USA in touch in fourth and fifth.

At the end of the first run, GBR suffer a touch & go that allows SUI to sail cleanly through but at the port marker, SUI fall off the foils themselves and block the marker forcing GBR to gybe and fall off the foils. In next to zero wind, the whole fleet fall of the foils and it’s anyone’s game now as to who can get up first.

As the pressure fills, out left it’s ITA who pick up first alongside GBR who both tack at the left boundary and drag race to the right boundary. SUI in third mid-course. At the tack on the right boundary ITA ventilate and splashdown as GBR sail through and cross with the wind building at the top of the course. ITA get flying again quickly and retain their lead in the final approaches to the last windward gate and round with a lead of 13 seconds over GBR.

ITA gybe early to cover GBR who exited the port marker and headed right initially downwind. Consistent sailing through the pressure patches brings ITA down the course in control and they take the 10 points race as the wind transitions to the east dramatically just as they cross the line and dies. GBR are the big losers in the transition as SUI steal second after staying on their foils and then spotting the windshift with GBR in third.

RACE 3:

With the Race Committee calling for J3 jibs, the breeze is up and the sea-state has increased. Off the startline, GBR pop from the pack but it’s close with NZL to windward as the fleet splits across the course. NZL squeezing up to leeward on GBR with FRA to leeward - great racing out to the right boundary in a bumpy seaway.

ITA gaining through the fleet as the first gate approaches, and round the top mark it’s GBR who bear-away at the port marker whilst NZL goes for the starboard and it’s split tactics down the first run. GBR cop a boundary penalty and then splashdown which expunges the penalty but ITA are the big winners who seize the lead in a very tight pack with NZL and FRA giving chase at pace - 40 knots and above.

At the first leeward gate ITA round 7 seconds ahead of FRA, NZL and GBR. FRA take the port marker and head right, the rest of the fleet go left. As they come back ITA have extended from GBR and NZL with FRA in fourth. At the end of the final beat, ITA keep a cover on their opponents as NZL get a boundary penalty, and round the final gate with a 13 second lead over GBR.

ITA bounce off the right boundary to cover the split gybe GBR and are clear ahead sailing downwind at 41 knots and bring it home to cross the line and stamp their authority on this series, scoring the maximum 10 points. GBR come across on the starboard layline in second and the final podium is taken by NZL from FRA in fourth. Best race so far in big conditions.

RACE 4:

The final race of the day gets underway smartly with the sea-state building and the teams on the limit. In the pre-start all boats are two-boards down for safety and the fleet are led back by GBR whilst ITA stays at the starboard end of the line. These two get away cleanly and unopposed with ITA making the best start at pace. NZL and FRA are again the closest as the boundary approaches but it’s ITA who are clear ahead. The drag race back to the right, sees GBR making gains and squeezing up the gauge as there’s a close cross with USA.

ITA first to tack before the boundary as GBR carries on out right. At the first gate, it’s a big gain to GBR who have gained considerable distance and bear-away at the starboard marker with a 9 second lead over ITA and USA. Very tight pack behind and GBR gybe over to cover as all the teams are sending it down this run at speeds in excess of 40 knots. We have all the makings of a real match-race here to the end between GBR and ITA.

ITA make the overtake in the final quarter of the run, bouncing off the left boundary and coming into the leeward gate on the port layline to round the starboard marker (looking downwind). The delta is just 4 seconds with USA holding steady in third. Tack for tack, GBR and ITA are having a duel with GBR closing the gauge relentlessly on a drag race to the right boundary before tacking together in sync. ITA to leeward put the squeeze on and force GBR away back to the right boundary. Great racing as ITA head to the left of the course.

As they come back together at the final windward gate, the chips are cashed in and it’s ITA that has made a two boat length gain and slam tack on GBR’s bow. Both boats round the port marker with only 3 seconds separating them. FRA are up into third as USA fell off the foils mid-beat.

Classic gybe covering downwind from ITA who have real speed off the wind, running deep angles and stretching to an almost 200 metre lead. Both boats fly down towards the port layline to the finish line and on the final gybe both boats nail good ones in tricky conditions and ITA score a 13 second victory and extend their lead in the series to 4 points. Thrilling finish for third with FRA nailing a final gybe on the bow of NZL in the final approaches to the line. Outstanding sailing from the America’s Cup representatives teams.

Tomorrow it is the turn of Group B- the Invited teams to race. For the Emirates Team New Zealand women’s team their next scheduled race day will be on Tuesday 8th October when the battle for qualification for the top 6 teams resumes.