What did we learn on day 7 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin?
by Mark Jardine 7 Sep 2024 16:23 BST
7 September 2024
INEOS Britannia on Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin Day 7 © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
After an overnight storm, the sea off Barcelona was decidedly lumpy, making life tricky for the trimmers, with a forecast 6 to 11 knot Southerly wind.
In the huge swell it was a day for boat handling, which meant more hydraulic power required, so the cyclors' power output was critical.
There was also a fair amount of debris in the water which the sailors had to watch out. A branch against a foil could easily damage a foil at 40+ knots. Indeed, INEOS Britannia coach Rob Wilson confirmed they hit a log with the rudder in practice, which they checked with a diver before racing.
Both boards were down on the AC75s at the leeward gates to give more control in the waves while rounding the marks.
New York Yacht Club American Magic vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
In 11 knots of wind, two of the big guns started our entertainment for the day. Entering the start box cleanly, American Magic positioned themselves just to leeward of Luna Rossa, forcing them to tack away early.
At the first cross, American Magic ducked Luna Rossa and, on the second engagement, American Magic chose to tack to leeward, but didn't execute their best manoeuvre, allowing Luna to get ahead of them on the starboard lay line for the first windward gate, rounding 14 seconds ahead but taking different marks.
American Magic came right back into Luna Rossa downwind, with them rounding the leeward gate just 3 seconds behind the Italians and again choosing different buoys.
The teams were neck-and-neck, with American Magic ducking Luna Rossa on the first cross, Luna Rossa ducking American Magic on the second, then back to American Magic ducking on the third, rounding the second windward gate just 7 seconds behind, choosing the same buoy for the first time.
The second downwind leg saw a gain for Luna Rossa, extending to 19 seconds at the second leeward gate, 26 seconds at the final windward gate and then 22 seconds at the finish.
A superb demonstration of control and boat-handling by the unbeaten Luna Rossa, but a race that came down to tactical decisions at key points, such as lay line tacks and downwind buoys choices. American Magic were no slouches today, but the Italian team is looking rock solid.
INEOS Britannia vs. Alinghi Red Bull Racing
With the wind up to 15 knots, INEOS Britannia called for a 15-minute delay to change their jib to a smaller one (J2 to J3). Alinghi were already sailing with their J3.
The teams started evenly, with Alinghi to leeward trying to push INEOS Britannia into a tack, but the British team powered over the top of the Swiss boat, tacking on to port in unison.
At the windward gate INEOS Britannia had a 12 second lead, extending to 21 seconds at the first leeward gate.
The British team were sailing impressively, with communication sounding more confident and the tactical calls good. At the second windward gate the lead was 28 seconds, and then 45 seconds at the final windward gate, powering down to the finish to win by 53 seconds.
The best performance by INEOS Britannia to date.
New York Yacht Club American Magic vs. Orient Express Racing Team
With the wind up to 18 knots, this was a last-chance saloon race for the Orient Express Racing Team.
Both boats lined up high on the line and the French team ducked down on the Americans, starting to the left, with both teams hitting the line at pace.
As soon as Orient Express tacked, American Magic matched their move and used a high mode to give dirty air to the French, forcing them to tack away.
Up the entire upwind leg the Americans continually forced the French left by tacking on them, controlling their position beautifully and rounding the first windward gate with an 8 second lead.
With Orient Express hanging on valiantly downwind, Tom Slingsby said to his American Magic team, "I'm not concerned about him, just simply about us", to keep concentration focused on their on-board processes. They continued to keep tight on the battling French, rounding the second upwind gate with a 15 second lead.
Despite picking up weed on their port foil and rudder on the final upwind leg, American Magic kept their racing clean to win by 15 seconds. With just one point, Orient Express Racing Team are on the brink of exiting the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Alinghi Red Bull Racing
Alinghi came in high on the start line to accelerate away nicely, tacking on top of Emirates Team New Zealand to take the early lead.
On the second tack through, the Kiwis pushed closer to the Swiss, forcing them to tack away. At the next engagement the America's Cup Defenders were in the lead, rounding the first windward gate 7 seconds in the lead.
Using a code smaller jib (J4), the Kiwis were slick through the tacks, and didn't seem at all slow downwind when the smaller sail would theoretically be slower.
At the leeward gate Emirates Team New Zealand tried to round on a single foil, but slid wildly, showing that discretion is probably wiser than valour at that moment, but they recovered quickly to hold the lead.
When the commentator asked New Zealand coach Ray Davies about the entertainment his team were providing, Ray replied, "Not the entertainment we want to be watching to be honest!"
At the second leeward gate the Kiwis used both foils for their rounding, 23 seconds ahead.
Emirates Team New Zealand went on to win by 38 seconds in this no point match.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. INEOS Britannia
An exciting finish to the day as the two forms teams went head-to-head.
Both teams entered the start box at 44 knots, with the Brits taking the high line and then rolling over the top of the Italians and starting to the left, both a boat length back from the line at the start gun.
INEOS Britannia tacked at the left boundary and managed to sail over the top of Luna Rossa, leading to a superb drag race to the right boundary. At the tack, the Brits nailed a tack on top of the Italians, extending their lead to over 100 metres, rounding 8 seconds ahead at the first windward gate, with a split choice of buoys.
Once the teams re-engaged, INEOS Britannia kept a close cover on Luna Rossa, gybing with them and maintaining their 8 second lead.
The cover continued on the second upwind leg, as the Brits knew they couldn't give the Italians an inch. For the first time, the Luna Rossa comms were subdued, as they rounded the second windward gate 22 seconds behind, extending to 29 second by the second leeward gate.
Both boats were sailing on the very edge in the swell, but the control shown by both was exceptional, bar the odd splash of the Luna Rossa hull in the water.
Italian coach Philippe Presti seemed utter unperturbed when asked if this performance was a worry, "No I'm happy as I'm learning heaps!"
INEOS Britannia rounded the final windward gate 30 seconds ahead. Despite a big touchdown on the final downwind leg for the Brits after losing control of the rudder, they managed to hang on the lead, winning by 25 seconds and handing Luna Rossa their first defeat.