Pre-start aggression the edge in race 3 of the 37th America’s Cup

The second race day of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona unfolded under clear blue skies and a slowly dropping breeze, providing a tricky backdrop for an increasingly intense showdown between Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia.

Both teams brought high-energy aggression to the Mediterranean waters as tens of thousands of spectators throughout the Race Village and beachfront fanzones were treated to a dramatic pre-start of race 3.

Emirates Team New Zealand faced a fierce challenge from their British counterparts, INEOS Britannia, but it was the Kiwis who proved to be the aggressor, earning a penalty in the pre-start though a very close port starboard incident that saw the flying AC75’s come too close for comfort. The umpires called INEOS Britannia at fault and imposed a ‘get-behind’ penalty, which handed Emirates Team New Zealand the lead right off the start line.

From there the Kiwi team kept a tight cover on the British all the way around the six leg race track, gaining another very hard earned point with a final delta of 52 seconds.

It was to be the only race of the day as the wind kept dropping below the minimum wind limit. The Race Committee postponed Race 4  and scheduled it to be sailed tomorrow, Monday 14th October.

AMERICA’S CUP RACE REPORT

RACE 3:

The breeze is in and above the 7.5 knots lower limit and on time, we get away with INEOS Britannia entering from the port side just 3 seconds shy and greeted immediately by Emirates Team New Zealand who enter and gybe as INEOS Britannia go for a tack around. Emirates Team New Zealand sail deep and then tack around go aim at INEOS Britannia. Both boats protest and with Emirates Team New Zealand the right of way boat, INEOS Britannia get an immediate penalty for not doing enough to keep clear. 

INEOS Britannia forced to sail off to the port side and Emirates Team New Zealand  start uncontested and tack immediately away to the right side of the course. INEOS Britannia tack off to the right as both boats go to alternative boundaries. INEOS Britannia clear their penalty as Emirates Team New Zealand tacks on the right boundary.

INEOS Britannia in catch up mode and it’s close on the next cross with Emirates Team New Zealand clear ahead and tacking on INEOS Britannia’s bow. INEOS Britannia tack away and go left in a good pressure band whilst Emirates Team New Zealand goes to the right boundary. At the next cross, Emirates Team New Zealand are again ahead and slam a tack again on INEOS Britannia’s bow forcing the British to tack away. Emirates Team New Zealand sail back to the right boundary and tack on pressure as IB sail off to the left. Emirates Team New Zealand in control but it’s tight.

At the top gate, Emirates Team New Zealand goes to the starboard layline and selects the starboard marker to bear-away at to play the left of the first run (looking downwind) initially. The lead is at 19 seconds as INEOS Britannia takes the port marker and goes right downwind initially.

Emirates Team New Zealand gybes on the left boundary as INEOS Britannia gybe on the right and as they come together Emirates Team New Zealand are still clear with IB hanging in some 165 yards behind. Race Committee recognise that the wind is dropping and have successively shortened the legs - now to 1.5nm.

Emirates Team New Zealand sail to the right boundary and gybe as INEOS Britannia goes to the left. Both boats going boundary to boundary to find the laylines. Emirates Team New Zealand rounds the leeward gate and takes the starboard marker to head left up the second beat. Delta now out to 27 seconds as INEOS Britannia take the port marker and go right up the beat. Emirates Team New Zealand tack to cover INEOS Britannia and when the British tack before the boundary, Emirates Team New Zealand match-race cover from some 200 metres ahead.

Tack for tack, Emirates Team New Zealand keeps a watching brief on INEOS Britannia, not letting them get any leverage as this breeze softens and the course legs are down to 1.4 nautical miles. A tack on the right boundary by INEOS Britannia is again covered from upfront by Emirates Team New Zealand and both boats sail a long starboard tack up the course before INEOS Britannia are the first to tack back towards the right boundary.

At the second windward gate, Emirates Team New Zealand tacks on the port layline and bears-away at the port marker. INEOS Britannia sail in on the port layline to round 32 seconds behind and bear away also at the port marker. Emirates Team New Zealand gybe early and sail over to the left side of the course, followed by INEOS Britannia and it’s clear that Emirates Team New Zealand are looking for the better pressure down the course whilst minimising manoeuvres. Emirates Team New Zealand gybe on the left boundary and aim towards the starboard layline to the leeward mark. Race Committee shorten again to 1.3nm legs.

At the final leeward gate, Emirates Team New Zealand rounds the port marker and heads to the right up the final beat with a lead of 33 seconds and two legs left to run. INEOS Britannia follow around and then tack away, covered by Emirates Team New Zealand up the course who sail a long starboard tack. INEOS Britannia first to tack back mid course and again covered by Emirates Team New Zealand. No leverage out here for the British and Emirates Team New Zealand are doggedly determined.

Emirates Team New Zealand capitalises, going slightly further to the right boundary before tacking and are in the ultimate control position here and, after coming in on the port layline, take a smart tack at the gate and exit off the starboard marker with a lead of 43 seconds. INEOS Britannia split tactics and go right after exiting the port marker and the finishing leg is shortened to 1.2nm.

Emirates Team New Zealand bounce off the left boundary and sail a long starboard gybe into more pressure before gybing on the starboard layline and head for the finish line, nailing the final gybe. No mistakes Emirates Team New Zealand go 3-0 up in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match with a final winning delta of 52 seconds.

Emirates Team New Zealand beat INEOS Britannia (52 seconds)

Skipper Peter Burling was pleased to cross the start line with a penalty on INEOS Britannia.

“Yes, we tried it yesterday and he just got past us. It was a little bit uncomfortable to be honest with how close the boats got. It will be interesting to see how the umpires ruled we were pretty clear there so great to get a penalty and controlled the race from there.”