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INEOS Britannia to Begin ‘Racing for Keeps’ in the Louis Vuitton Cup
INEOS Britannia on day 3 of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
With the first stage of the 37th America’s Cup set to commence in Barcelona, INEOS Britannia Team Principal and Skipper Ben Ainslie emphasized that teams are “now racing for keeps where every point counts.” He remarked that the upcoming event promises to be “one of the best yet.”
The Louis Vuitton Cup, which begins on Thursday, is pivotal as it will determine which of the five challenging teams will face Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the competition for the world’s oldest international sporting trophy. The series starts with a double Round Robin format, where each team will race their AC75 boats against each other twice, with the team accumulating the least points being eliminated.
Ainslie highlighted the AC75 race boats as the “pinnacle” of design and engineering within the sailing arena, noting that INEOS Britannia is collaborating with the Mercedes AMG-Petronas Formula One team for the design and construction of their vessel.
“It’s a real privilege to sail on these AC75s,” Ainslie expressed. “Their performance is mind-blowing, both upwind and downwind, which I think will surprise those watching. With the AC75s racing in a stunning location like Barcelona, this truly is set to be one of the best America’s Cups yet.”
The Louis Vuitton Cup follows the Preliminary Regatta held in Barcelona from August 22-25, where all six teams raced their AC75s for the first time. INEOS Britannia, the British Challenger of Record representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, secured victories in two of their races against Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI) and Orient Express Racing Team (FRA).
Reflecting on the results from the Preliminary Regatta, Ainslie noted, “While we would have liked to have won more races, there were plenty of positives and lessons to take away from those four days of racing. We learned how critical the pre-starts are, and while we had some good moments, we also made some silly mistakes, which is part of the learning process of sailing this boat. The team is now focused on the Round Robins and feels we have more potential in terms of boat performance, handling, and maneuvers—there’s plenty of development still to come. Overall, the team is feeling positive and motivated.”
Although the Louis Vuitton Cup’s purpose is to determine the challenger for Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup Match, the Kiwis will also participate in the double Round Robin stage. Their race results will not impact their score or that of the other teams.
During the pre-event press conference, Ainslie mentioned, “There have been discussions regarding whether the Defender’s points should count, and that’s a valid debate. While Pete Burling wouldn’t intentionally manipulate the results, it’s been agreed that the current system is fair. Racing in the Round Robins allows the Kiwis to observe the Challengers, but it also provides us with an opportunity to learn. Given the Kiwis won the Preliminary Regatta, it’s fair to say that we learned more from them than they learned from us.”
Ainslie will be joined on the AC75, Britannia, for the Louis Vuitton Cup by Dylan Fletcher as Co-Helm, Bleddyn Mon and Leigh McMillan as Trimmers, along with four rotational Cyclors who come from a pool of nine athletes rotating on and off the boat between races. The Cyclor crew includes David ‘Freddie’ Carr, Ben Cornish, Matt Gotrel, Neil Hunter, Harry Leask, Luke Parkinson, Matt Rossiter, James Skulczuk, and Ryan Todhunter.
The Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Selection Series) begins on Thursday. UK viewers can catch all the races live on TNT Sports starting at 13:00 BST (14:00 CEST). One team will be eliminated after the double Round Robin stage, leading to the remaining four teams proceeding to the Semi-Final, and ultimately, two teams will advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final. The winner will face Emirates Team New Zealand for the chance to claim the 37th America’s Cup.
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Luca Moretti, an accomplished sailor and marine journalist from Genoa, Italy, has a lifelong passion for the sea that has defined his career. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Genoa, Luca is celebrated for his vivid and insightful storytelling. His work captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime traditions of Europe, making him a well-respected voice in the sailing community. When he’s not writing, Luca can be found exploring the Mediterranean’s picturesque coastlines and competing in regattas, always seeking new adventures on the open water.
