Land Rover BAR win Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series
by 35th America's Cup 20 Nov 2016 06:41 GMT
18-20 November 2016
Land Rover BAR - the British challenge headed by Olympic legend Ben Ainslie - has won the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series with a first place finish at the ultimate event in Japan this weekend.
Land Rover BAR - the British challenge headed by Olympic legend Ben Ainslie - has won the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series with a first place finish at the ultimate event in Japan this weekend.
Ainslie's team sailed extremely well to secure the overall title with a race to spare. With the overall series win, Land Rover BAR earns two bonus points for the next stage of the America's Cup.
ORACLE TEAM USA and skipper Jimmy Spithill pushed hard, finishing ahead of BAR in the first race of the day, but Ainslie was able to sail with controlled aggression to a 4, 2, 3 scoreline, and into the overall series win.
"This has been a goal for us for the whole season and for this event. The guys have done an incredible job," Ainslie said from the water following the second race of the day.
"For us as a new team it sends out a strong message for all our supporters that we can do it."
For the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Fukuoka, it came down to a tie-break with Land Rover BAR clawing into a tie with Artemis Racing in the final contest, and taking the regatta by virtue of a better result in the last race.
But with attention shifting to Bermuda and the America's Cup racing next year, the focus was on the overall title and bonus points it confers.
By taking first place on the overall Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series leaderboard, Land Rover BAR has collected two bonus points to carry forward into next year's Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers in Bermuda.
With a second place finish on the overall leaderboard, ORACLE TEAM USA secured one bonus point for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers next year.
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Overall:
1. Land Rover BAR -- 512pts
2. ORACLE TEAM USA -- 493pts
3. Emirates Team New Zealand -- 485pts
4. Artemis Racing -- 466pts
5. SoftBank Team Japan -- 460pts
6. Groupama Team France -- 419pts
Selected America's Cup Team Quotes:
Sir Ben Ainslie, Skipper, Land Rover BAR: "It's been an incredible day of racing and for our team, Land Rover BAR, to come out on top here in Fukuoka, Japan in the final race of the series, and to win the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, that was our goal and to achieve that is special for us. We are a completely new team, two and a half years ago we were a blank sheet back in Portsmouth in the UK and now, for our designers, our shore team and everyone back in the UK, it's a real boost, so now we set our sights on Bermuda for the America's Cup.
"Looking at this weekend, I think for all of us it's what we love, when it gets aggressive. We had really good battles with Jimmy and with Emirates Team New Zealand and to go into that final race with the overall series sewn up, we were trying to get that bonus point off ORACLE TEAM USA and make life hard for them, but to their credit they did a good job of recovering.
"So, now we go ahead to next year. It's going to be neck and neck and I can see it being incredibly tight. I think the bonus points are going to be a factor next year. They're 20% of the points on offer in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers so it's definitely worth having them, but also, for a new organization like ours, we need to show that we can perform at the highest level, for our own team, or our partners and our supporters, to show them all that we have a team with the capability of winning the America's Cup, and I think we've shown that.
"I think this series has showcased just how tight it's going to be in Bermuda next year. The level of competition and the skillsets of the sailors have been phenomenal, and now we move into our own race boats, our own designs, and I think that's going to be fascinating for all the fans to see."
Jimmy Spithill, Skipper, ORACLE TEAM USA: "We wanted the points. We would have loved to have taken the two points,b ut one thing we weren't going to let happen was to have Emirates Team New Zealand take our point off us. So we ended up in a bit of match race with them at the end and the boys did a great job to keep them behind us."
"Our shore team and support crew and the guys on board have done a tremendous job over the last two years to make sure we had an opportunity to win it all, right down to the last day, and that's all you can ask for. I think it's a real tribute to them that we were in this position, but now we move on to the serious end of the business. The America's Cup is what we have to focus on now.
"We've been doing a lot of work in Bermuda and some great testing with SoftBank Team Japan and Artemis Racing, and we've got an extensive development program to go. Our shore team and engineering team and designers have continued to work away in Bermuda while we've been here, so we'll fly back there tomorrow and put the hammer down again."
Peter Burling, Helmsman, Emirates Team New Zealand: "It was really tough day out there and good to get some breeze at the end, especially after all the light air at the beginning. Despite that it was great to be properly racing and finish everything out there on the water. Full congratulations to Ben today for putting down a great performance and closing it out really well. For us, we were trying in that final race to give Jimmy a bit of a nudge to try and sneak that final bonus point, and it didn't quite go our way. That's racing though, we will learn from that, we'll get stronger from it as a unit and then we'll take those lessons into Bermuda in about six months time. For us it's all about learning, getting better and putting ourselves in the best shape possible coming into the sailing in the ACC boats and we think we're doing that.
"Not many of the penalties were going our way this weekend, but that's how it is sometimes in yacht racing. Overall though, we're still really happy to walk away with third in this Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series. We keep learning at every event, and even though that might not show on the leaderboard in the last couple of regattas, we've grown a lot as a group and are already looking forward to the challenge in Bermuda next year."
Nathan Outteridge, Skipper, Artemis Racing: "It was a bit better for us today. Two wins and fourth in the last one, and after a tough day yesterday it was really nice to have a good day today. I think the change in performance was down to getting off the line better and making really good calls at mark one. We took a lot out of yesterday and realized we had to sail better, and that's what we did today. Overall, it's great to finish towards the top in this regatta. We finished up on equal points with old Benny (Ben Ainslie)
"What we've learnt the most is just how much we have had to take on in the last year and a half. This world series has taught us many lessons and to be able to finish off the season with a first and a second is great for our team. It gives us a lot of confidence for when we get the ACC boats in the water and a performance like this makes us a bit closer to being race ready for 2017."
Dean Barker, Skipper, SoftBank Team Japan: "This weekend has completely exceeded all my expectations. The number of people that have turned up, both in the Event Village and out on the water, and the genuine support for the team, it's just really cool, especially when you consider that this team is only just over a year and a half old. We've not only quickly built up this following, we've also renewed interest in the America's Cup and what it is now, so it's been a fantastic experience.
"The cool thing is that people really do care about it. Sailing is not a big sport in Japan, they've had success in the Olympics but in recent times there's been no real connection between Japan and the major international events so to see what's happened here in Fukuoka is something we're all extremely proud of. Seeing how much attention Fuku has had here shows that there is a genuine buy-in and take up of what we're doing and that, as I say, exceeds the expectations we had for what's happened this weekend.
"The other side of this weekend is what happened on the water, and unfortunately we just left too many points out there on the water. We turned a couple of good places into bad, we had a mechanical failure on Saturday that turned a second into sixth and as always with these events, you lose a few points here and there and then it all adds up at the end of the weekend to a result you didn't want. However, with how well this whole event has gone, we cannot be disappointed, only happy with the first ever America's Cup event in Japan."
Franck Cammas, Skipper, Groupama Team France: "Well a victory in the end so it was positive to finish the event and the whole series like that. For sure we were a little upset with the first two races because we made a good start and had good position in the middle of the race but, like yesterday, we lost at the end of the race. However, we won the final race and we have to think about that next year when we are racing again in Bermuda.
"Now our focus is on the turbo boat and then on the ACC (America's Cup Class) boat, improve all parts of the boat and keep working back in Brest. We will move some pieces from the turbo boat to the ACC boat and then we will ship everything to Bermuda and start building the base there. Then we will start to sail there at the beginning of March, and then it's the America's Cup itself!"
Kazuhiko "Fuku" Sofuku, Bowman and General Manager, SoftBank Team Japan: "I am really quite overwhelmed about how well this event has gone and I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make it happen. I also want to thank all the people who came out to support us and the event, it really has been incredible, everything. As I say, it is overwhelming to see how many people turned up, so thank you."
Champions - Land Rover BAR win the event and the World Series! (from Land Rover BAR)
A stunning final day performance from Land Rover BAR took the ultimate round of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series (ACWS) in Japan – and with the win they became 2015-2016 ACWS Champions. They did it with a race to spare, creating a sufficient buffer that they could focus on winning the event in the final race.
A roller coaster day saw the team lock out the USA and New Zealand – the two closest overall opponents – at the start of the first race, only to watch them fly by on the run. Land Rover BAR recovered to a 4th but with the Kiwis and Americans in 2nd and 3rd it was still wide open.
The team kept supporters on their toes as they broke the line early in race two, with NZ and the USA clear leaders at the start gun. A stunning recovery on the first lap saw them back into the pack, and with an incredible final leg pass of the Americans, Land Rover BAR sealed the World Series win. A third in the final race meant the full champagne moment as Ben Ainslie and crew closed out the double with a win for the Fukuoka event.
It's been an extraordinary season, with consistency the key. In nine events, the team have only been off the podium twice, recording four event wins (Portsmouth x 2, Oman and Fukuoka), bolstered by a second (Chicago) and two third places (Gothenburg and Toulon). The World Series win means that the team will take two vital bonus points into the next round of the competition, the America's Cup Qualifiers, starting 26th May 2017 in Bermuda.
Thoughts on the day
Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Team Principal: "It was an amazing day for the team because our core goal was to win the overall series, that is what we came here to do. To achieve that and come out on top in the final event to get four regatta wins in the overall series, that is a huge achievement from a completely new team.
"Two and a half years ago we had absolutely nothing, so what we have achieved in building the team, the infrastructure, and this performance in the World Series is something we should all be incredibly proud of - but at the same time it's just one step in our journey to the America's Cup. Our objective was to get the two bonus points and we've got that, and now the focus is clearly on the race boat and the performance next summer in Bermuda.
"I am absolutely delighted by how things have gone, but at the same time I know our team and how focused they are on the America's Cup. We will be straight into training in Bermuda and getting best prepared for the America's Cup to try and bring it home after a 167 years of hurt."
Jono Macbeth, Sailing Team Manager: "After a couple of years of hard work it's fantastic to not only win here in Japan but also the World Series overall. It is just a small step along the way to our ultimate goal of winning the America's Cup. It's just a good day, a good weekend, and everyone should be very proud and satisfied. Not just the guys here in Fukuoka but everyone back at the Camber and all the people who have played a part in it.
"It is such a team sport and this has been an incredible team and it spans across so many different departments and if anything had gone wrong in any of those areas we wouldn't have had the results that we have. A great weekend and it's probably time to let our hair down a little bit and relax and enjoy the moment."
Paul 'CJ' Campbell-James, Wing Trimmer: "We couldn't be happier, to win with one race to spare and then go on and dominate that last race and get the regatta win – it just doesn't get better than that. We battled all day and that is when we are at our strongest – if the going gets tough we get going.
"It's also good to have the most experienced man in the world steering, Ben did a fantastic job and Giles [Scott] got us out of some deep holes, while Nick [Hutton] and Fred [David Carr] put in a fantastic work rate. Special thanks goes to all the support team here in Japan and back in Portsmouth – they are key to keeping us on form."
ORACLE TEAM USA secures important bonus point in Fukuoka (from ORACLE TEAM USA)
ORACLE TEAM USA had a hard-fought battle on Super Sunday in Fukuoka, emerging with a second place finish on the overall Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series leaderboard and securing a bonus point heading into the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers next year.
The racing was brutal at times on Sunday with the stakes high and critical bonus points on the line.
ORACLE TEAM USA started the day in second place on the leaderboard, but with a focus on overhauling the leading British challenger to secure a second bonus point. But despite narrowing the gap in the first race, it wasn't to be.
"We wanted the points. We would have loved to have taken the two points," said skipper Jimmy Spithill. "But one thing we weren't going to let happen was to have Team New Zealand take our point off us. So we ended up in a bit of match race with them at the end. And the boys did a great job to keep them behind us."
At one point in the racing on Sunday, both BAR and Team New Zealand were pushing penalties onto ORACLE TEAM USA, attempting to drive the team further down the rankings. But each time, Spithill and crew fought back.
"That's us just living the dream as the defender," joked Spithill after the racing.
"But I'd like to congratulate BAR for winning the series. You get what you deserve in this game, and they sailed well."
Spithill was also quick to credit the full ORACLE TEAM USA team for its efforts this year.
"Our shore team and support crew and the guys on board have done a tremendous job over the last two years to make sure we had an opportunity to win it all, right down to the last day, and that's all you can ask for," he said. "I think it's a real tribute to them that we were in this position."
With the Fukuoka event marking the conclusion of racing in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, ORACLE TEAM USA will now re-double its efforts in Bermuda, in preparation for racing next year.
"Now we move on to the serious end of the business," Spithill said. "The America's Cup is what we have to focus on now.
"We've been doing a lot of work in Bermuda and some great testing with SoftBank Team Japan and Artemis Racing, and we've got an extensive development program to go.
"Our shore team and engineering team and designers have been working away in Bermuda while we've been here, so we'll fly back there tomorrow and put the hammer down again."
Emirates Team New Zealand closes in 3rd position in Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series (from Emirates Team New Zealand)
The Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series came to the end today in Fukuoka, where the ninth and final round of the AC45 circuit has been held. It was a challenging day on the Hakata Bay with crews switching from drifting in no wind one minute to foiling down the final run of the day.
With bonus points for the America's Cup Qualifiers at the stakes, demanding weather conditions and tight ranking where the top three teams had a mathematical chance of overall victory, this was, without a doubt, the most thrilling racing day of the entire Series.
Emirates Team New Zealand, Land Rover BAR and Oracle Team USA, the top three leading teams, fought neck to neck in a racing day where a little puff made the difference between the first and the last position in the fleet.
Emirates Team New Zealand maintained their third place in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, whereas Land Rover BAR won the overall Series.
In the first race despite a bad start and an immediate penalty, after being sandwiched between an aggressive Land Rover BAR and Oracle Team USA, Emirates Team New Zealand managed to recover and crossed the finish line in second position. The second match was a close fought race between the Kiwis and the Americans with the two teams fighting for an edge over the other. Finally Emirates Team New Zealand got a marginal port starboard penalty at the end of leg two that, in light winds of 5-6 knots, cost the team the 4th position. In the last race Emirates Team New Zealand was still in the game to get the bonus points and the Kiwis sailed the entire race side by side with their direct rivals but in the end it didn't go their way.
After 40 races and nine events in eight different countries the curtains fall on the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series; with the America's Cup only six months away, the team now start the final sprint to win the oldest trophy in international sport. The challenger selection series will began on May 26th with the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers.
In the Qualifiers each competitor will race every other competitor twice, scoring one point per win. The top four challengers advance to the Playoffs (beginning on June 4th) and they will be split in two semifinals. The winners then will race in a final to determine the top challenger that will go up against the Defender in the 35th America's Cup Match scheduled to start on June 17th.
Helmsman Peter Burling. "It was tough out there, it was down to the wire and we just missed out but overall looking at where we came from at the beginning of the World Series, it is probably a fair result. Patience and perseverance are key in this campaign, a chapter is closed and we are already focusing on what lies ahead."
Glenn Ashby, Emirates Team New Zealand Skipper said: "A couple of marginal penalties didn't go our way in some close situations and that just made things harder than they need to be. The exciting thing for us now is we have a clear runway to focus entirely on our testing and development program back in New Zealand for the main event next year, in the races that count. We have the sailors, the designers, the shore team to win the America's Cup and now we just have to push for the final sprint."
Emirates Team New Zealand will be back out on the Waitemata harbour this week resuming the drive to maximize the performance of their race yacht for Bermuda next year.
SoftBank Team Japan rides waves of support in Fukuoka (from SoftBank Team Japan)
SoftBank Team Japan were the undisputed crowd favourites on the shores of Hakata Bay today, the final day of racing at Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Fukuoka despite a mixed day on the water.
Two disappointing finishes in the first pair of races set the team up for a thrilling comeback as they charged through the fleet to nab a second place behind Groupama Team France in the third and final race.
That was enough to set the crowd on fire. Black SoftBank Team Japan flags waved across the beach by the thousands as the team took to the stage, ultimately finishing fifth in this final race of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series circuit.
"It's been quite the experience to come to Fukuoka and race in front of our hometown fans", said a smiling skipper and CEO Dean Barker.
"It's well exceeded the expectations I had coming here. The number of people who have turned up and their support for the team has been great. It would've been nice to have a better overall finish but it keeps everyone hungry for preparing for next year."
Bowman and general manager Kazuhiko Sofuku fought through the media swarm post-racing to sign autographs for the crowd as well as greet several ex-Nippon Challenge teammates who were in attendance.
"This is fantastic", said Sofuku. "I've enjoyed every minute. So many people have turned out and we're overwhelmed with the support. I'm very happy. "
With the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series concluded, the team's focus now returns completely towards the development of their America's Cup Class yacht in Bermuda – the platform they'll race in the 35th America's Cup in June 2017.
The 50-foot catamaran recently arrived at the team's base in Bermuda and has begun an extensive modification program as the team transitions the systems and procedures learned already in their AC45 Sport test boat to the final race yacht.
That boat will ultimately decide the fate of the team going forward into the match races of the America's Cup Qualifiers – the pathway to the America's Cup finals.
Dean Barker was optimistic that the team's development program has benefited dramatically from the testing sessions held over the past year with Oracle Team USA and Artemis Racing.
"I think we've got a very good understanding of how the boats respond in different conditions", said Barker.
"Getting the chance to race alongside Artemis Racing and Oracle Team USA has been a huge advantage I think in a lot of ways. It's going to be interesting once more teams turn up in Bermuda."
The team now travels back to Bermuda tomorrow and will be back straight into sailing upon their return as precious days tick away during the final stages of testing their new yacht design.
"We'll push all the way to the very end", said Barker. "Every day counts."