Orient Express Racing Team Showcases Significant Advancements During Crucial Louis Vuitton Cup Phase
Orient Express Racing Team Achieves Dramatic Progress in Louis Vuitton Cup
Orient Express Racing Team has showcased significant advancement in their pursuit of the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup during an exhilarating race against INEOS Britannia.
The thrilling competition featured multiple lead changes, with the French team consistently in the mix throughout the final race of the first round in the Louis Vuitton Cup. Although the British team narrowly secured the victory on the last leg, Quentin Delapierre and his crew remain optimistic as they prepare for the decisive second round of races beginning on Tuesday.
Skipper Quentin Delapierre expressed pride in the team’s performance, stating, “It was a great fight, and it is a real positive that the boat is going faster and faster and our manoeuvres are getting better. I was really proud of the team that we could take the start from INEOS.”
Delapierre added, “Everything is getting better and better, and we just need to do some things a bit faster or more accurately to win races, but we are not far from that.”
At the midway point of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin races, the Orient Express Racing Team is positioning itself to qualify for the Semi-Final stage, currently ahead of Alinghi Red Bull Racing in the overall standings. The second series of Round Robin races will see all five challenger teams facing off against each other, keeping the competition fierce and unpredictable.
However, the French challenger’s initial victory over Alinghi, which remains winless, is providing a pathway to the four-team Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final.
Delapierre, along with co-pilot Kevin Peponnet, trimmers Jason Saunders and Matthieu Vandamme, and powerhouse cyclors Rémi and Thibaut Verhoeven, Timothé Lapauw, Antoine Nougarède, Germain Chardin, Maxime Guyon, Olivier Herlédant, and François Pervis are set to take on Alinghi again in the first race of the second Round Robin series.
Looking forward to this critical matchup, Delapierre said, “We will approach it with the same mindset, to keep on learning. Everything is way better than it was last week, and we just need to stay focused on that, stay patient and make it all happen.”
According to the overall Louis Vuitton Cup standings, the Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is currently leading the challenger table, remaining unbeaten with four race wins. INEOS Britannia holds second place with a score of three wins and one loss, while NYYC American Magic is in third place with two wins and two losses.
Sarah Mitchell, an experienced sailor and marine journalist from Sydney, has nurtured a love for the ocean throughout her life. After earning a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Sydney, Sarah quickly made a name for herself with her compelling and vivid storytelling. Her work captures the thrill of sailing and the unique culture of maritime life, making her a respected figure in the sailing community. Outside of writing, Sarah spends her time exploring Australia’s stunning coastlines and competing in local regattas, always on the lookout for her next great adventure.