After all the hype, the drama of last week’s Louis Vuitton Cup win, the staring down of the haka, the fighting talk, this was a sobering first day to this America’s Cup match from a British perspective.
Ben Ainslie had warned that his team would be “underdogs”, given New Zealand had had three weeks off racing to make modifications to their boat and scope out the opposition. Now we know he was not lying.
In light winds of between 7-12 knots, and relatively calm sea state, the Kiwis looked imperious on the opening day of the 37th America’s Cup match; a click or two quicker upwind, smooth through their manoeuvres, assured in everything they did.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, so positive at the start of the day that he had committed to another Cup campaign with Ineos “whatever the result”, had barely had time to get his VIP guests out to the racecourse in his tender, Wolf, before the Kiwis had raced into a 2-0 lead in this first-to-seven series.
Fortunately, Ainslie is not the type to back down at the first sign of a setback. In fact, he tends to respond to them, and Britain’s skipper was his usual bullish self afterwards.
“I’m just as confident as I was yesterday,” Ainslie insisted. “Losing the first two races is not what we wanted, but nothing has changed in terms of… we need to win seven races before they do.
“I thought they sailed two great races and their performance was good, their speed was good, they did a good job. But I think we can clearly beat them. We showed in that second race, at times we were close to it.”
Ineos were indeed closer in the second race, although it is all relative. After delays caused by a lack of breeze, they had a bit of a shocker in Race 1. When the race committee finally declared the race “on”, they were busy replacing a battery on board which was “overheating dangerously”.
Great Britain know only too well what can happen if you let a lithium-ion battery overheat. One of their AC40s – the smaller version of the high-performance yachts which they used for training and then for the youth and women’s Cups – was renamed ‘Crispy’ after being burnt to a cinder. It was unfortunate timing, though, especially as Ineos have prided themselves on their reliability so far in this campaign.
“We had to get it off the boat in a hurry,” Ainslie said. What it meant was they were almost a minute late arriving in the start box. They were on the back foot from then on, eventually hitting the line with less speed than their rivals and losing the start. By the windward mark they were already 24 seconds behind. Quite how much of that was down to New Zealand’s superior boat speed and how much because they kept a tight cover on Ineos Britannia, giving them their dirty air, was a moot point. But they did seem to have better VMG – speed towards the mark – upwind, with Ineos managing to close a bit downwind. The eventual winning margin was 41 seconds.
The second race was a lot tighter. At least the first half of the race was, thanks to a much more even start. Britain even took the lead on the first downwind leg after splitting the course following a close beat. It always felt as if New Zealand had a speed advantage though, and they pulled away on the final two legs, winning by 27sec.
More light winds are forecast for Sunday. So light, in fact, that racing could be jeopardy. That might be no bad thing for Ineos, who will want to crunch the numbers from these races now that they have finally had a good look at the New Zealand boat and what it can do.
If there is one thing Ineos have done brilliantly in this campaign, it is to make improvements mid-series and improve all aspects of their performance, and Ainslie said he hoped it would be the same again.
“I think we’ve shown as a team we are pretty resilient and we’re good at learning and developing,” he said. “It’s important to have got that line-up and figure out some areas where perhaps they were outperforming us. Being able to see how they’re operating their boat and setting it up, we’ll learn from that. It’s a long way to go. There’s no one who is dropping their heads. The opportunity is still very much there. We always said, all along, that taking on the Kiwis would be the ultimate challenge, and today sort of showed that.
“But I still think it’s going to be close and if we sail well we can take races off them. It’s easy to look at it and go ‘It’s 2-0 and there’s a big gap there’ but I think it was maybe closer than it looked.”
04:10 PM BST
That’s it for today, folks
Races three and four are scheduled for tomorrow with coverage from 13:00 BST. See you there.
04:07 PM BST
Regroup required for Ineos Britannia
Big reality check, that. We were all waiting to see what New Zealand had done with their boat over the last few weeks and now we know. The gauntlet has well and truly been thrown down. But it’s a long series. We’ve only seen one set of conditions. Ineos will certainly hope for some choppier seas in the coming days. The positioning of the bulb on NZ’s foil arm potentially makes them a bit more vulnerable when the waves are bigger and the bulb is submerged. One thing is for sure, Ineos, who have justifiably received praise for the way they have improved through each qualifying round, are going to have to improve like never before if they are to win this thing.
03:53 PM BST
New Zealand 2 – 0 Great Britain
Emirates Team New Zealand put on a flawless display of both boat speed and tactical match racing decision-making to defeat Ineos Britannia in both opening races of the America’s Cup match. There is still a long, long way to go in this competition though, and teams have come back from a far more disheartening scoreline than that in the past.
03:50 PM BST
NZL lead on final leg
It looks like only a slip-up now will change this race result.
03:49 PM BST
What is the difference?
Ineos Britannia coach Rob Wilson concedes that Emirates Team New Zealand may have a “small edge” in upwind speed. As soon as a boat gets their bow in front they have control over selecting shifts and when to tack and it is then fairly straightforward to extend.
03:47 PM BST
NZL lead extends to over 30 seconds
Pete Burling’s team are just putting a loose cover on Ineos Britannia here. There are very few passing opportunities if things stay as is.
03:44 PM BST
NZL take control
Emirates Team New Zealand are 28 seconds ahead at the windward gate. They were consistently in more pressure on that upwind.
03:42 PM BST
Two lead changes already
NZL seem to have taken control here on this upwind, but there have been two lead changes already and it’s never over until it’s over.
03:40 PM BST
Split at the leeward gate
GBR are off to the right, NZL are off to the left. Good gains for GBR on that downwind. The wind is decreasing a little and the pressure differences are really critical to boat speed. It is definitely a snakes and ladders game out there.
03:36 PM BST
Another split at the top
GBR trail NZL by 14 seconds. Let’s see what they can do on this second downwind leg. NZL look to be in considerably less pressure.
03:33 PM BST
Tight racing
The match has been much closer since the start in this race.
03:31 PM BST
That right hand side of the course is looking strong
Every team going to the right-hand-side of the course (as you look upwind) is making a gain. Emirates Team New Zealand have taken the advantage. GBR follow NZL around the leeward gate after a tricky manoeuvre not being quite on the layline.
03:29 PM BST
Gains for GBR
GBR are back in front after making gains in good pressure down their side of the course. We know they are fast downwind. This is a real cat and mouse tussle.
03:27 PM BST
NZL lead around the top mark
GBR are 11 seconds behind, but there is a split at the windward gate. We will see what happens when the boats come together again.
03:26 PM BST
British protest
Ineos Britannia calls a protest for the port-starboard cross but umpires deem no penalty – the boats were far enough apart.
03:25 PM BST
GBR will not cross
Ben Ainslie’s team go for the duck. Emirates Team New Zealand gained in some pressure on the right hand side.
03:24 PM BST
GBR have a strong start
GBR leebow NZL off the start and force them to tack, but they went into the manoeuvre with good speed. We will see what happens when the boats come back together.
03:21 PM BST
America’s Cup race two is on!
We are in start sequence for race two of the America’s Cup match. Ineos Britannia will be looking to stop the momentum that is currently in favour of Emirates Team New Zealand.
03:19 PM BST
Athena Pathway hails a ‘historic day for the sport’
03:12 PM BST
What does the future of women’s sailing in the Cup look like?
It’s a question that was asked of the America’s Cup helms at the pre-match press conference – could there be a woman on a Cup boat at the next iteration of the event? Nathan Outteridge, co-helm of Emirates Team New Zealand, replied: “I can’t see why not.” He went on to explain how there are no real physical constraints to a female taking on a driver or trimmer role. Ben Ainslie said: “yes, but they have to prove it.” Hopefully this inaugural Women’s America’s Cup will be a strong step on that journey.
03:01 PM BST
Celebrations for Italy
02:57 PM BST
Italy wins the Puig Women’s America’s Cup
Just eight seconds separated Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli from Britain’s Athena Pathway at the finish of the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup. Italy’s co-helm Giulia Conti credits her victory to the cohesion of the team. It doesn’t seem a coincidence that Luna Rossa has invested in both the youth and women’s teams and events and come out on top in both. Hannah Mills reacts: “this is just the beginning of women’s sailing in the Cup, and I’m so proud to be part of the first ever one.”
02:50 PM BST
Moment of truth as the boats come back together
The right hand side didn’t quite pan out for Britain’s Athena Pathway, and they trail Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli by 18 seconds going into the final leg.
02:46 PM BST
Sir Jim Ratcliffe exclusive
Tom Cary sat down with the Ineos co-founder before racing this morning, and he expressed his intention to return for another crack at the America’s Cup – regardless of the outcome of this year’s match. You can read what Ratcliffe had to say, and didn’t say on the subject of Manchester United, by clicking this link.
02:46 PM BST
Small touch down for Luna Rossa
There is a bit of a sea state building here, which makes the chance of coming off the foils increase. The Italians did another good job of recovering from a small touch down. I think we will have another split at the bottom of the course, which gives a bigger chance for position changes.
02:43 PM BST
Another textbook match race
The Italians are really matching every move the British make here to limit their options for overtaking. It looks like we may have a split at the second windward gate. Three legs completed, three legs to go.
02:40 PM BST
Still six seconds separate the teams
Hannah Mills’ team does well to keep this contest tight. The Italians recovered successfully from a slightly panicky moment during a gybe to maintain their lead.
02:37 PM BST
Super tight at the top
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli lead around the top gate by six seconds ahead of Britain’s Athena Pathway. We know the Italians have some good downwind speed.
02:35 PM BST
Clean start
That was a very even start for the two women’s teams. The British boat are to windward but the Italians seem to have a slightly better speed at this point. The Italians tack onto port and the British match just to leeward.
02:31 PM BST
History in the making
Don’t go anywhere! Next up we have the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup final, with Britain up against Italy in a winner-takes-all match race.
02:27 PM BST
What next for the Brits?
Well that was sobering. I wonder whether GB would be that upset if the wind now died and they had to scrap today’s second scheduled race. They now have a ‘benchmark’ for NZ so they will want to go away and crunch the numbers and make improvements – something they did extremely well in the challenger series.
02:25 PM BST
What made the difference?
Ben Ainslie puts more emphasis on the first left shift than the battery issues, despite the latter putting the team slightly on the back foot. Ainslie says: “we didn’t do a whole lot wrong, the Kiwis just had a better race.” The New Zealand team certainly had the better pace off the line, and the importance of that start and first cross are absolutely critical.
02:21 PM BST
Emirates Team New Zealand take race one
The defenders take race one of the match in fairly convincing style, with a lead of 41 seconds over challenger of record Ineos Britannia. Coach Rob Wilson blamed ‘battery issues’ for the British team’s late entry to the start box, which put them on the back foot. This is the first time that any kind of reliability problem has hit Ben Ainslie’s team – a real strength that they had over Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the Louis Vuitton Cup final. Pete Burling’s team hit the line at pace and the Brits struggled to get back into it from that point onwards with New Zealand carrying out textbook match race defensive moves.
02:15 PM BST
One leg to go
Emirates Team New Zealand lead by almost a minute with one downwind leg remaining before the finish. Realistically it will take a mistake from Pete Burling’s team here for Ineos Britannia to make up this distance.
02:11 PM BST
Battery issues on Ineos Britannia
Coach Rob Wilson blames ‘battery issues’ for the team being a little late on the start. The New Zealand team remains in control.
02:08 PM BST
Very calm comms on the New Zealand boat
Pete Burling and Nathan Outteridge sound very relaxed and in control here. The dual-helm of these boats requires complete trust in your opposite number on the other side of the boat, who is basically your eyes for the 180 degrees in your blind spot. The New Zealand team have a significant lead around the second leeward gate.
02:04 PM BST
New Zealand execute a clinical upwind
Pete Burling’s team have really taken the options away from Ineos Britannia on this upwind leg. They have done a textbook defence and their lead has extended to 36 seconds.
02:01 PM BST
Classic match race
Emirates Team New Zealand are doing the classic move of keeping a tight cover on Ineos Britannia to keep them in their control and pass them their ‘dirty air’ coming off their sails. It is difficult to judge the relative speeds when one team is in cleaner air.
01:59 PM BST
Great downwind leg for the Brits
They have made up the difference by nine seconds, but still trail New Zealand by 15 seconds.
01:57 PM BST
Big gains here to Ben Ainslie’s team
Ineos Britannia have found more pressure on the left hand side of the course as you look downwind. They have made up 100m, but are still just under 200m behind.
01:55 PM BST
New Zealand leads after leg one
Ineos Britannia has a 24 second deficit to make up here. We know they are quick downwind but will that be sufficient to make up the metres.
01:54 PM BST
Ineos Britannia tacks out
Emirates Team New Zealand maintaining a loose cover, they seem to have superior upwind speed at the moment. We know that once the boats have rounded the first windward gate then it takes a lot for positions to change, but there is a lot more race to run.
01:52 PM BST
Tight cross
New Zealand tack onto port with the ability to cross, Britain matches. Initial advantage New Zealand.
01:51 PM BST
We are underway
New Zealand nail the pin end of the start, Britain start at the starboard end. Initial gain to New Zealand on speed.
01:48 PM BST
Racing is live
We are in start sequence. New Zealand got tails in the coin toss so will enter on port, Britain on starboard.
01:46 PM BST
So many unknowns
We haven’t seen Emirates Team New Zealand race since the preliminary regattas over a month ago, where they looked strong. They’ve had plenty of time since then to develop their boat and watch Ineos Britannia’s racecraft unfold during the Louis Vuitton Cup. On the flip side, the British team are sharp and race-ready. Who will come out on top? We have less than five minutes until the start.
01:42 PM BST
Breeze is building
The race committee have said that the next possible start time is 13:50 BST.
01:33 PM BST
We are in a count down
The clock stands at twelve minutes to go until start time. Hopefully this breeze stays in and enables the first match to get underway.
01:21 PM BST
Professional waiting
We joke in sailing about being experts in professional waiting. When you do a sport that is at the mercy of mother nature, sometimes you have to just hang tight until the wind gods play ball. It is a critical skill knowing when to mentally switch on and off. Even though racing is currently postponed, as soon as the wind picks up the game will be on. Fingers crossed that happens sooner rather than later!
01:18 PM BST
Very different conditions to the Louis Vuitton Cup final
These light breezes are a very different set of conditions to what Ineos Britannia experienced in the Louis Vuitton Cup final against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, where often the racing was postponed due to the wind exceeding the maximum limit. It will be interesting to see how the British team’s steep learning curve in those conditions translates to these more marginal, softer winds.
01:12 PM BST
Postponement due to light winds
Currently the wind is 5-5.5 knots, and the minimum wind speed is 6.5 knots.
01:11 PM BST
“There is no second”
It has been a long road to get to this point with many hoops to jump through before even making it to the America’s Cup match. Great Britain have made it through the round robin, semi-finals, and defeated Italy 7-4 in the Louis Vuitton Cup. It has been 60 years since a British team has achieved that, and contested for the Auld Mug. They face the mighty Emirates Team New Zealand, who have won the last two America’s Cups. The winner is the first to notch up seven race wins. As Pete Burling, New Zealand skipper, said in the pre-match press conference – the winner of the final race will always be the team who wins the competition.
01:04 PM BST
The ultimate sailing showdown is nearly upon us
12:58 PM BST
Update from dockside
Just back from the Ineos Britannia base. I went to watch them docking out. Great atmosphere with all the foghorns sounding on the big boats and Fatboy Slim’s Right Here, Right Now (which has become the team’s unofficial ‘walk-on’ music) blaring. In terms of famous faces, Matt Pinsent was there – he’s obviously friendly with many of the cyclors as they’re all ex-GB rowers – along with the Ineos top brass: Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Jean-Claude Blanc, James Allison from Mercedes F1 etc etc It’s still very light out there. Iain Murray’s prediction of 13 knots at 1pm was way out. 5.8knots at the moment.
12:45 PM BST
Wealth of talent among the British team
Ineos Britannia will be helmed by sailing’s most successful Olympian of all-time, Sir Ben Ainslie, and Tokyo 2020 skiff gold medallist Dylan Fletcher. It says something of the calibre of British sailing that two-time Olympic Champion Giles Scott will not be helming on Britain’s AC75. Scott was replaced as co-helm by Fletcher in August, just a few weeks before racing got underway in the preliminary regattas.
12:39 PM BST
Ineos Britannia docking out for the first America’s Cup match
Matthew Pinsent, four-time Olympic rowing gold medallist, says from the dock in Barcelona: “I don’t think there is a bigger story in British sport at the moment. It’s amazing – I had to come out and watch it.”
12:31 PM BST
History will be made today in the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup
The first ever Women’s America’s Cup champions will be crowned today in a winner-takes-all match race between Britain and Italy. The British Athena Pathway team, skippered by two-time Olympic gold medallist Hannah Mills, topped the leaderboard in the four-race semi-finals that were held yesterday afternoon. Sailed in foiling AC40 monohulls – the smaller sibling of the AC75 yachts raced in the America’s Cup – the boats reach speeds of well over 30 knots. The final match race against a strong Italian side – Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – is due to be held after the first America’s Cup match today.
12:13 PM BST
Where to watch
We have an hour until racing kicks off in Barcelona. In addition to the livestream on the America’s Cup YouTube channel, the BBC have confirmed that they will also be showing the matches live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app from 13:00 BST.
12:00 PM BST
Ben Ainslie and Ineos Britannia take tilt at America’s Cup history
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the America’s Cup match between Great Britain and New Zealand, with Ben Ainslie’s Ineos Britannia the first British team to reach this stage for 60 years.
They will be considered underdogs in this first-to-seven series against the defending champions, but Ineos Britannia have the chance to make history. No British team has lifted the Auld Mug in the competition’s 173 years.
Ainslie has told his team not to be intimidated by the opposition or occasion, after the New Zealand crew performed a haka at the pre-final press conference.
Ainslie said: “The fact that Britain’s never won the America’s Cup is what drives us. It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My experience when you get those opportunities … don’t be scared, step up and take it on.”
Racing is expected to start at around 1pm. Tom Cary is in Barcelona for us and has provided a morning weather update:
Just had the morning race management briefing with Iain Murray (regatta director) and Richard Slater (chief umpire). It looks very, very light out there right now but they’re confident it will fill in. “It will probably be at its highest between midday and 2pm (Spanish time),” Murray predicted. “We reckon we could have 13 knots by 1pm which would be ideal.”
In case you missed it, the women’s final race is now being held today with tomorrow’s forecast “looking difficult… very marginal”. The one-off match race will be slightly longer than the fleet racing we have seen so far this week. Around 17-18mins as opposed to 12-13mins.
Murray said he was “very confident” in getting Race 1 on today and had “a fair degree of confidence” in Race 2 (the women’s race) given the AC40’s lower wind limit is one knot higher than the AC75’s at 7.5knots. The third race, he said, was “probably the one in the most jeopardy”.
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