After the most intense battle of the event so far, the points are still even in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, with INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on two wins each. Race Day 3 started with Ben Ainslie’s British team getting the point after the Italians were disqualified for having shore team members onboard to replace its damaged mainsail when the race was declared live.
The second race of the day was described by commentators as one that would go down as an America’s Cup classic. It saw some extremely close encounters in maximum conditions with INEOS Britannia protesting several maneuvers from the Italians, but the umpires discounting them all. Luna Rossa managed to secure the win of the second race, with INEOS Britannia just four seconds behind.
INEOS Britannia Team Principal Ben Ainslie said: “It was great racing in the top end of the wind state and we were full red lining these yachts, including reaching our record speed in the practise laps. That second race was a classic and a proper dust up in the pre-start. The umpire decision could have gone either way, we thought it should have been ours but they thought differently but that’s yacht racing – and the one thing about yacht racing is that the umpires are always right. It’s two points-a-piece now but we’re up for a fight. We’re pleased with how we’ve been performing as a team and certainly think we can go all the way.”
Race Day 3 started with a win for INEOS Britannia, but not in the way the team would have hoped. The point was awarded to the British crew after Italy was disqualified for having outside assistance on-board to replace its damaged mainsail when the race was declared live. While racing was delayed due to wind above the limit, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was forced to drop the mainsail which had broken battens in the upper sections. It was a race against time for the Italian crew, but shortly after dropping the sail, the wind was within the limit and the race was on. As INEOS Britannia headed to the start, the race committee announced Italy was disqualified and the win was awarded to the Brits.
After the second race was delayed several times due to the wind being above the maximum limit, the teams were eventually given the green light and Italy were ready to race with their new mainsail on. Luna Rossa had the port entry, INEOS Britannia the starboard side, and they were able to take advantage of the right of way at the first cross. The British forced the Italian boat to avoid and tack way, immediately getting on their tail.
Ben Ainslie and his crew pushed the Italians high and away from the line, protesting as Luna Rossa squeezed across the bow of the British boat to get back to the start line. The umpires didn’t see the incident the same way and there was no penalty – it handed the initiative and a slightly better start to the Italians. At the gun Luna Rossa was tight to leeward on INEOS Britannia who tacked away immediately, with the Italians following.
At the first cross Luna Rossa tacked directly in front of INEOS Britannia, a luff from the British boat again failed to get the penalty from the umpires. When Ainslie and co. tacked away, the Italians let them go this time, with both boats sailing to the layline, at the gate the gap was just four seconds.
At the first cross on leg three, Luna Rossa again tacked in front of INEOS Britannia to get a controlling position. The British boat drove into leeward to hook and then luff the Italians. Once again, there was no penalty. The British boat held its position to the boundary and tacked with the Italians, who covered the next tack as well, eventually setting up in front of INEOS Britannia on the layline. At the gate Luna Rossa led around the left-hand mark with the British just five seconds behind.
A final, dramatic push on the penultimate leg by the Brits. forced an error from Luna Rossa as they missed a layline and had to do an extra tack. The British boat was breathing right down their tail pipe, six seconds behind as both boats turned for the finish. INEOS Britannia kept the pressure on all the way down, but despite making gains, there wasn’t enough racetrack to make the pass. Luna Rossa evened the series by a margin of just four seconds.
INEOS Britannia Trimmer Bleddyn Mon said: “Conditions were extreme out there, but we felt the boat was performing really well. A credit to the Cyclors as they did an unbelievable job making sure we had enough power in those maneuvers. It was a fight out there and the gloves are off on both teams.”
Race Day 4 will take place on Monday 30 September and UK viewers can follow all the action live on TNT Sports from 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST).
