Team NZ delivers racing lesson to Swiss and leads America’s Cup series

Sunday, 25 August 2024

Team New Zealand heads into day four in the lead, with two other boats suffering drama and technical disappointments.

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Team New Zealand has held its lead in the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta after beating Alinghi Red Bull Racing on Sunday (NZ time).

Earlier American Magic had a spectacular rudder fail, and INEOS Britannia copped a race-losing penalty before its encounter with Luna Rossa.

The series goes into the fourth and final day with Team New Zealand on four points, Luna Rossa on three, American Magic two, Alinghi RBR, INEOS Britannia and Orient Express all on one.

Race Four: Emirates Team New Zealand vs Alinghi Red Bull Racing

In one of the best pre-starts of the day, Arnaud Psarofaghis’ Swiss crew forced Team New Zealand to split right just before the start.

It was a good call by Peter Burling as from an even start, Team NZ held the Swiss at bay, tacking in front of them each time they converged.

It was flawless performance from the defender, but also another clean and determined performance from Psarofaghis and his young crew.

Team New Zealand won by 1min 15sec and leads the series into its final day with four points.

Alinghi Red Bull Racing trails Team New Zealand in the final race of Day 4

Race Three: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs INEOS Britannia

INEOS Britannia may have been on too much of a roll after its first win earlier, entering the start box early, for its clash with Luna Rossa.

Mistimed, 2.4m of the boat entered the start box ahead of time, and after winning the start INEOS Britannia had to fall back 75m behind the Italians, to serve its penalty.

From there it was follow-the-leader with the Italians continuing to extend their lead to be 46 seconds ahead and to reach three points.

Race Two: American Magic vs Orient Express

This should have been a one-sided race, but in the pre-start, the American boat’s bow rose and dipped several times, leading to a crewman scrambling to the back of the boat to check the rudder.

To no avail, the crippled Patriot retired before the start, gifting a first win to Orient Express. American Magic remains on two points, and the French on one.

American Magic CEO Terry Hutchinson (centre) as they meet up with their crippled boat.

“We lost rudder control,” said the helmsman Paul Goodison.

Race One: INEOS Britannia vs Alinghi Red Bull Racing

Sir Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia desperately needed to get on the scoreboard into day three, but after an even start, narrowly trailed Switzerland’s Alinghi RBR, as they crossed and tacked up the first leg.

Coming back in from the right at the top gate, INEOS Britannia rounded first, but only by four seconds.

From that point, superior downwind speed was crucial in building the British team’s lead, and left Alinghi RBR little opportunity to get back in the race, with a winning margin of 33sec. Alinghi RBR remains on one point.

It will be a boost for Ainslie’s challenge which had gone winless for two days, but Alinghi RBR will take heart from giving them a run, and sailing mistake-free.

Three more races on Monday (NZ time), when a sea swell of one metre is expected, precede the regatta’s decider, in which the top two teams will sail off for the honour.

Each team has one more race on the final day, with the top two teams contesting a one -race final.

Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta, day three results:

Race nine: Britannia beat Alinghi

Race 10: Orient Express beat American Magic

Race 11: Luna Rossa beat Britannia

Race 12: Team New Zealand beat Alinghi

Standings: Team New Zealand 4, Luna Rossa 3, American Magic 2, Britannia 1, Alinghi 1, Orient Express 1.