From the outset, the race proved challenging. The Italian team struggled to get off their foils, incurring a penalty that left them at a disadvantage. As the race commenced, France quickly established a lead, with the UK and New Zealand following closely behind.
Approaching the first gate, France crossed in first place at 3:29, with the UK in second, the US in third, and New Zealand trailing slightly. In a dramatic turn, the US experienced a brief touchdown, allowing the UK to seize the opportunity and climb into second place as all teams ramped up their speed down the second leg, reaching an impressive 39 knots.
By gate two, France maintained its lead, passing through at 6:09, just ahead of the UK and New Zealand, who were locked in a fierce battle for the podium spots. New Zealand’s performance began to shine as they overtook the UK, now firmly in second place, with France still comfortably ahead by 160 metres.
As the teams approached the final gate at 10:14, France’s commanding lead had extended to an impressive 300 metres, with New Zealand following and the UK struggling to keep pace. In a heartbreaking moment for the UK, they fell off their foils, solidifying New Zealand’s second-place finish.
France crossed the finish line triumphantly at 12:56, followed by New Zealand in second and the UK in third. The US and Switzerland rounded out the results in fourth and fifth, respectively, while Italy finished last.
With this victory, France solidifies its position as a formidable contender in the Youth America’s Cup, leaving competitors eager to challenge them in the coming races. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the French team to see if they can maintain their winning momentum.
