But Mother Nature had other ideas. After hours of delays due to light winds, the race finally got underway, and what followed was a rollercoaster ride that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
In leg 5 Luna Rossa fell off their foils, no wind and started sailing – a few minutes later INEOS had the same fate — the outcome was an incredibly boring sail, yes, old school sail, until the race was abandoned at the time limit.
At the start, it was Italy’s Luna Rossa that found the early momentum, sprinting out of the gate and claiming the lead. However, it didn’t take long for INEOS Britannia to respond. Halfway through the first leg, the British boat surged ahead, thanks to a smooth tack and better speed management. By the time they reached the first gate, INEOS had opened up a solid 150-metre lead, looking poised for a dominant performance.
Yet, this was no one-sided affair. As the boats entered the second leg, Luna Rossa caught a favourable wind pocket and quickly overtook INEOS, briefly gaining a 100-metre advantage. The lead would change hands several times as both crews struggled with the tricky conditions, battling soft winds that made it difficult to stay on their foils — the hydrofoils that allow the boats to essentially “fly” above the water and reach incredible speeds.
By the time they reached Gate 2, INEOS had regained control. The British team, showing impressive composure, widened the gap to 150 metres again. As they powered into Leg 3, INEOS’ lead grew steadily, increasing to 500 metres as Luna Rossa faced continued difficulties staying up on their foils.
The Italians, still fighting valiantly, couldn’t seem to find the consistency they needed. Meanwhile, INEOS Britannia was flying down the course, speeding towards the next gate with a growing sense of inevitability. At one point, the British boat was clocking nearly 30 knots, compared to Luna Rossa’s 28 — a significant difference in the light winds.
But the unpredictable weather struck again. As the race approached its final stages, both boats began to struggle. INEOS, despite leading by a large margin, found it difficult to stay on their foils and dropped back, giving Luna Rossa a glimmer of hope. However, the Italians faced the same issue, and soon both boats were effectively limping towards the finish.
As the clock ticked down, it became clear that neither team would be able to complete the race in time. After 35 minutes of intense, fluctuating action, the race was abandoned — a frustrating end to what had promised to be a thrilling contest.
While both teams were left ruing their inability to capitalise on the race’s opportunities, the battle is far from over. With the leaderboard still level at 1-1, both INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Praded Pirelli will be eager to return to the water and continue their pursuit of America’s Cup glory.
For now, all eyes remain on the wind, and on what promises to be an exhilarating conclusion to the Challenger Series.
Within a minute of the end of the race, the organisers announced that efforts for today would be stopped, no more racing today as there was little to no hope of any further wind today.
Back tomorrow for more action.
