Athena Pathway, the British team competing in the PUIG Women’s America’s Cup, has kicked off the history-making event with a race win. The team, supported by Cobham Ultra and representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, is one of 12 teams competing in the first ever Women’s America’s Cup in the competition’s 173-year history. The Brits ended the first race day in second place overall with a scorecard of 1-3-2-2.
Athena Pathway Team Principal and Skipper Hannah Mills said: “It’s been an epic day, this is groundbreaking for not just women’s sailing but women’s sport in general. To have opened the first ever Women’s America’s Cup with a race win is incredible. The conditions were pretty choppy out there, especially in the downwinds, but this racing is unbelievable, it’s so intense and so fast, we would be out racing every day if we could. We’re happy to have secured a race win and be second on the board after day one, now we’re pumped to get back out there on Tuesday.”
The event began with four races for the women’s teams of those nations competing in the 37th America’s Cup. Athena Pathway was lining up against Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA), NYYC American Magic (USA), Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI) and Orient Express – L’Oreal Racing Team (FRA).
Athena Pathway nailed the start in the first race to take the lead, with Emirates Team New Zealand hot on their heels just 8m behind. The British crew had their foot on the gas though, and managed to extend their lead to 426m in the second leg. The conditions made it tricky for all teams to handle their one-design foiling monohull AC40 race boats, with a lot of sea swell and patchy wind. Athena Pathway had a wobble off their foils on the third leg but managed to recover well to maintain the lead until the end and secure the win.
It was touch and go at the start of race two, with Athena Pathway falling off their foils in the pre-start as the wind dropped. It was a battle for the British crew to get back up for the start, but they managed to dig themselves out of a hole and lead across the line. It was then a close fight between the Brits and the Swiss, with Alinghi Red Bull Racing taking the lead in leg two. At the second gate, the Swiss then fell of their foils going round the mark where the wind had dropped to just 5 knots. It was then a domino effect, with all teams that followed also dropping of their foils, including Athena Pathway.
The Italians managed to round the mark well and then took the lead in leg 3, Mills and her crew were in fourth position but managed to make gains and eventually get back up into first place after Luna Rossa fell of their foils coming out of a tack. The Italians fought back to steal the lead from the Brits and take the win. Athena Pathway were in position for a second place until they fell off their foils on the approach to the finish line. Alinghi Red Bull Racing also came off their foils but were able to drift across the finish line in second place, with Athena Pathway taking third. 
The third race was delayed for more breeze to come through and once it got going it was extremely close racing, with just 300m between the first and sixth boat. Athena Pathway was leading in the first leg but suffered a boundary penalty which cost them three places and bumped them into fourth. In leg two they managed to climb from fourth to second, but they were unable to get ahead of the Italians who led the rest of the race and took the win while Athena Pathway finished second. The fourth and final race was a true battle between the Brits and the Italians, with the two race boats neck and neck for much of the race. It ended in the same way as race three, with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli first and Athena Pathway second.
The fleet of 12 teams has been split into two groups, those nations that have a team competing in the 37th America’s Cup, and those that have been invited to participate. The Qualification Series sees a total of eight races completed for both groups. The top three teams from each group progress into a Final Series of four races to decide the top two teams that will go head-to-head in a winner-takes-all Final Match Race.
Athena Pathway is competing in Group A alongside the other America’s Cup teams and Group B consists of teams representing Spain, Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Sweden and Australia. Group B will have four races on Sunday before Athena Pathway and the rest of the Group A fleet resume racing on Tuesday. UK viewers can watch all the action live on TNT Sports from 13:00 BST.
