LVC37: Swiss, Italy get wins before storm

Barcelona, Spain (September 3, 2024) – After a day off, the Louis Vuitton Cup resumed racing with the second round of the Round Robin Stage, and were faced with storm conditions as the winds came off the mountains to the north of Barcelona.

One of the five challenger teams will be eliminated after this stage, and the first race of the day matched the two likely casualties – Alinghi Red Bull Racing and Orient Express Racing Team. The Swiss, winless from Round Robin 1, benefited from the French’s technical trouble which saw them off the foils on the first upwind leg.

The Swiss never looked back, offering no passing lanes or ways back in for Orient Express Racing Team and sailed smoothly over six legs to secure a morale-boosting win that could be absolutely vital at the end of this regatta in the case of an undecided tie-break.

“I think we did it quite well, we like these shifty conditions and heavy wind, so I think we did what we really wanted to do,” noted Maxime Bachelin, helmsman of Alinghi Red Bull Racing. “We were quite down last week after the results, now it’s a good reset and we’re very happy with the performance of the team on the boat-handling and, as well, the speed looks way better than what it was in the past, so we are very happy.”

It was a hard loss to take for the French. “We had a technical issue, which is quite unfortunate, and we were just fighting with the boat in the starting box and also really struggling in the first tack,” explained French helm Quentin Delapierre. “We didn’t lose this match fairly.

“It is what it is. This is the Cup, it’s part of the game and honestly, the confidence is still really high. We know that we will improve again during this week, we can win all the matches, so we just have to stay really positive. Everything is possible this week.”

Two other teams enjoying a tight battle, came head-to head in the second race of the day with Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, with the Italians gassing the defender in the final approach to the start line, forcing them into a low-speed tack that saw the Kiwis fall off the foils.

Aside from Luna Rossa surviving a nervy sky-rocket broach on a tack exit, they dominated the course to lead at every mark. But on the final downwind to the finish, as rumbles of thunder were heard close by, a lightning strike hit the water just a few hundred meters ahead of Italy on their way to the finishing line.

New Zealand skipper Peter Burling, wanting nothing to do with the risk, headed straight off the racecourse which resulted in a DSQ for Emirates Team New Zealand.

The Race Committee called a halt to racing, awarding the win to Luna Rossa. Both boats dropped sails immediately and fast-towed back to the Port Vell.

Viewing details – Race information – Results – Weather forecast

2024 Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series
August 29-September 8: Double Round Robin
September 14-19: Semi Finals (Best of 9)
September 26-October 7: Finals (Best of 13)

Team New Zealand competes in the round robin stage only, and the results of their races are not included in the challenger leaderboard. Races start at 14:00 CET (08:00 ET) and run until 16:30 or 17:00, depending on the schedule.

Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, 2021, the AC75 Class Rule and AC Technical Regulations were finalized on March 17, 2022. The entry period was from December 1, 2021 until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup could be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender was to announce the Match Venue on September 17, 2021 but postponed the reveal, finally confirming Barcelona on March 30, 2022. The 37th America’s Cup begins October 12, 2024.

Teams revealed to challenge defender Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
• INEOS Britannia (GBR)
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI)
• Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA)
• NYYC American Magic (USA)
• Orient Express Racing Team (FRA)

2023-24 Preliminary Regattas
September 14-17, 2023 (AC40): Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
November 30-December 2 (AC40): Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August 22-25, 2024 (AC75): Barcelona, Spain

2024 Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series
August 29-September 8: Double Round Robin
September 14-19: Semi Finals (Best of 9)
September 26-October 7: Finals (Best of 13)

2024 America’s Cup
October 12-21: 37th Match (Best of 13)

For competition details, click here.

Additionally, 12 teams will compete in the 2024 Youth & Women’s America’s Cup.

Noticeboard: https://ac37noticeboard.acofficials.org/
Event details: www.americascup.com/en/home

Source: ACE