The day began with a delay, as light winds pushed the start of the race back by more than 20 minutes. When the race finally began, it was Alinghi who made the first costly error, crossing the start line early and incurring a penalty that instantly put them on the back foot. As the race progressed, it became clear that the biggest challenger was the winds—or rather, the lack of them.
Both boats struggled to maintain speed, barely staying on their foils in the light conditions. INEOS appeared to have the upper hand after the first leg, but a series of misjudged tacks and increasing frustration with the fading wind saw their fortunes rapidly unravel. The British boat dropped off its foils, allowing Alinghi to surge ahead on the third leg.
“It was like watching a slow-motion car crash,” said one commentator. “You could see INEOS trying desperately to stay up, but the conditions were brutal.”
As INEOS faltered, Alinghi seized their chance, overtaking the British team and building an impressive 600-metre lead which continued to grow as INEOS failed to retain its foils. By the final leg, with both teams off their foils and struggling to maintain any speed, it was clear that INEOS’ hopes were fading fast. Alinghi, though also battling the fickle winds, managed to cross the finish line in a slow but triumphant 41 minutes and 22 seconds—one of the longest races in America’s Cup history.
This victory breathes new life into Alinghi’s campaign, with the Swiss team proving their resilience under intense pressure. It was a blow for INEOS Britannia, who had hoped to advance directly to the finals with this race. Instead, they now have to face off in another semi-final race against Alinghi to secure their place.
“We gave it everything, but the conditions got the better of us today,” said an INEOS team spokesperson. “It’s disappointing, but we’ll regroup and come back stronger.”
For Alinghi, this was a much needed win. Despite several near-misses and a series of unforced errors in previous races, they showed their ability to capitalise on INEOS’ mistakes and remain in contention.
As the race officials called an early end to the course, reducing it to just five legs due to the poor conditions, the tension was palpable. Would either team be able to finish before the race time limit? As the Swiss boat finally crawled past the finish line, their crew erupted in celebration, knowing the significance of the moment.
“It’s been a tough series for us, but today we showed that we’re not done yet,” said one Alinghi team member. “This win changes everything.”
With the finals of the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series now in sight, both teams must prepare for their next race, which could be intense. For now, though, Alinghi can take another breath and plan for their next shot at the cup.
On a day when the elements seemed determined to thwart the action, Alinghi seized the opportunity that came their way. INEOS Britannia’s dream of a smooth sail into the finals has hit a storm, and the Swiss team has made it clear—they are not going down without a fight.
