Race 2 of Day 3 at the Puig Women’s America’s Cup proved to be a challenging and thrilling contest, marked by dramatic lead changes, technical issues, and some incredible sailing from Sweden. The race, part of the Group B round, saw multiple teams struggle to keep their boats on their foils, but Sweden emerged victorious with a commanding lead.
Right from the start, it was clear this would be no ordinary race. Three boats were off their foils before they even reached the first gate, including the Dutch team, who had taken on water. Spain, however, got off to a strong start, taking the lead out of the gate, while Sweden closely followed. By halfway through the first leg, Spain had built a 150-metre lead over Sweden, but the conditions were tricky, and maintaining that lead would prove difficult.
It wasn’t long before problems arose for several teams. Germany and Canada retired early—Canada lost all board functions, and Germany also pulled out. As the fleet approached Gate 1, Sweden capitalised on Spain’s misstep, with Spain briefly losing their position after touching down off their foils. Sweden surged ahead, leaving Spain 17 seconds behind.
As the race progressed, Sweden built on their lead, taking advantage of the mistakes of their rivals. Spain continued to fight for position but faced pressure from the Dutch, who were closing the gap. Both teams, however, struggled with foil control, coming off their foils in the third leg. Spain recovered quickly, but the Dutch couldn’t regain their speed, allowing Sweden to extend their lead.
By the time Sweden hit the final gate, they had a massive 400-metre advantage, leaving little doubt about the outcome. The Swedish team sailed through the final gate at 9 minutes and 45 seconds, a full minute and 33 seconds ahead of Spain, securing their second win of the day.
The Spanish team crossed the line to claim second place, while the Dutch team finished in third. Australia, was unable to finish, and the early retirements of Germany and Canada, left a clear podium for the top three teams.
Sweden’s dominant performance puts them in an excellent position for the semi-finals, with a potential third win of the day still on the cards. If they continue sailing with the precision and speed shown today, their chances for overall success in the competition are looking bright.
Final Results
1st: Sweden
2nd: Spain
3rd: The Netherlands
DNF: Australia, Germany, Canada
The Puig Women’s America’s Cup is heating up, and with every race, the stakes get higher as teams battle for a place in the semi-finals. Keep following along for the latest updates and thrilling action from the water!
