Leaderboard: Emirates Team New Zealand 4 WINS INEOS Britannia 2 WINS
The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup final saw another nail-biting race as INEOS Britannia outmanoeuvred Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) to claim their second win of the series. After a day of high-stakes competition, INEOS showed their resilience, sailing a near-flawless race to close the gap in the series standings.
From the start, both teams were neck and neck, pushing their boats to the limit up the first leg. INEOS, having learned from their earlier mistakes, quickly gained an 80-metre lead but couldn’t shake the Kiwis, with ETNZ clawing back almost immediately. The fight for dominance remained fierce as the teams raced through the first gate, INEOS crossing at 3:26 and New Zealand following just six seconds later.
The battle continued through the early legs, with INEOS staying in control but never comfortably out of reach. By the third leg, INEOS had widened their lead to 200 metres, but both boats were racing at a blistering 36 knots in high swell, making it a challenge to stay on their foils.
INEOS passed through the third gate first, with ETNZ once again 9 seconds behind, a pattern that would hold through much of the race. Every manoeuvre from the Kiwis seemed to cost them precious metres, yet they refused to let INEOS pull too far ahead.
As the race progressed, INEOS continued their strong performance, expertly navigating through each gate. However, leg 7 saw a turning point. INEOS, while pushing hard, made two minor errors—briefly kissing the water—which allowed ETNZ to close the gap to under 100 metres. It was the first time in the race the Kiwis were within striking distance, and any further slip from INEOS could have cost them the lead.
With the finish line in sight, the final leg was a battle against the wind. INEOS rounded the final gate at 25 minutes and 23 seconds, with ETNZ only 7 seconds behind. The chase was on. Both boats powered towards the finish, but INEOS held firm, crossing the line just 65 metres ahead of their Kiwi rivals.
This second victory of the day for INEOS was a testament to their sailing precision and ability to fend off New Zealand’s relentless pursuit. After a tough first race marred by a Kiwi mistake, this win was all about skill and strategy on INEOS’ part.
The leaderboard now stands with ETNZ at four wins and INEOS Britannia with two. As the series heats up, both teams will be looking to capitalise on their momentum heading into the next race.
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