A British team has advanced to the America’s Cup match for the first time since 1964, as Ineos Britannia secured their final race win against Luna Rossa, claiming the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Led by Ben Ainslie, the British crew will challenge defending champions New Zealand in a best-of-seven series that kicks off next Saturday.
Britain Beat Italy
The thrilling final of the challenger series, which saw momentum swing back and forth over the first four days, ended with a 7-4 victory for Ainslie’s team. The crew celebrated on the water, with their financial backer Sir Jim Ratcliffe joining them aboard “Rita,” the team’s AC75 yacht.
After a week of intense competition that saw the score tied at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4, Ineos Britannia managed to convincingly secure the final three races. This remarkable improvement, especially after a shaky start during the preliminary regatta in August, demonstrated their versatility in varied wind conditions, from light breezes last weekend to heavy gusts midweek, and then back to lighter winds on Friday.
Next up, they face a New Zealand team that has won the previous two Cups and used their time sitting out the latter stages of the challenger series to make significant improvements to their boat.
What’s Next For Britain?
The big question at the start of the final day was whether there would be sufficient wind to race. Surprisingly, a steady breeze of 8-15 knots provided ideal conditions for Ineos. The British team took an early lead, reaching 40 knots at the start and forcing Luna Rossa to tack away. From there, Ineos remained in control, showcasing seamless coordination between Ainslie and his co-helm Dylan Fletcher, who replaced Giles Scott at the last minute—a bold move by Ainslie.
The excitement upon crossing the finish line was evident, both on board and back at the team’s base in Barcelona, where family and friends gathered to watch. This moment marked a significant milestone for the team, which has been striving for ten years, in their third campaign and their second with Mercedes F1 as a partner.
British challengers have attempted to win the America’s Cup 23 times since the competition began off the Isle of Wight in 1851 but have yet to succeed. “Yeah, it’s been a while,” Ainslie admitted after the celebrations. “It’s a massive day for our team, and I’m incredibly proud of everyone—not just here on the water but also on shore and back in Brackley. It’s a massive moment.”
Ainslie continued, “We started this team 10 years ago when Britain wasn’t part of the America’s Cup. It took many people to step up and support us, including Jim. So, it’s a big thank you to all those people and our supporters.”
He emphasized the importance of the win, noting, “It’s a big moment. There’s a lot of pressure. All the investment, time, and money, and you just want to make it count.”
Securing the Louis Vuitton Cup is a significant achievement for British sailing, but Ainslie—considered the most successful Olympic sailor in history—aims for nothing less than gold. His words immediately after Friday’s win were telling: “One more to go, boys.” The challenge against New Zealand awaits.
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