Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Swiss) vs. INEOS Britannia (UK): A Decisive Victory for the British
America’s Cup continues to deliver thrilling races, and the contest between Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Swiss) and INEOS Britannia (UK) was no exception. From the start the teams started evenly, but as the race progressed, INEOS Britannia demonstrated superior speed and skill, leaving the Swiss in their wake. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the race, from start to finish.
Before the race started, INEOS Britannia used their delay card to change their sails, they needed their time to better match their sails to the quickly changing conditions. As the starting horn sounded, both Alinghi Red Bull Racing and INEOS Britannia were neck and neck. The teams battled fiercely as they powered up the first leg of the race, staying close to each other and exchanging minor leads. However, it wasn’t long before the UK team, led by its experienced crew, began to edge ahead.
By the halfway mark of leg 1, INEOS Britannia had opened up a small but significant gap. As they approached the first gate, the British team had extended their lead to 100 metres, setting the tone for what was to come.
At 3 minutes and 19 seconds into the race, INEOS Britannia was the first team through Gate 1, solidifying their early advantage. Alinghi Red Bull Racing followed close behind, crossing the gate just 12 seconds later. At this point, the gap was still relatively small, and the Swiss were within striking distance. However, what unfolded over the next few legs would show the growing dominance of the British crew.
Halfway through the second leg, INEOS Britannia began to pull away. By this point, their lead had ballooned to 250 metres, and they were consistently faster than their Swiss counterparts. The British team appeared to be in full control, while the Swiss struggled to maintain the pace.
As INEOS Britannia powered through Gate 2 at 6:04, it became clear that they were in a different class. Alinghi Red Bull Racing followed 21 seconds later, losing further ground. The Swiss, though still pushing hard, were being systematically dismantled by the British boat, and it seemed that the race was slipping away from them.
Leg 3 saw INEOS Britannia continuing to extend their lead, pushing it up to 300 metres. However, the British team was not without its challenges. On more than one occasion, their boat experienced minor “nose taps” into the water, which slowed them down slightly. These brief missteps could have provided an opportunity for the Swiss to close the gap, but Alinghi Red Bull Racing were unable to capitalise.
Despite the minor setbacks, INEOS Britannia sailed through Gate 3 at 10:16, with Alinghi Red Bull Racing trailing by 28 seconds. The Swiss had not made any progress in catching up and were struggling to keep pace as the race continued.
At this point in the race, the outcome was beginning to look inevitable. INEOS Britannia, maintaining their incredible pace, continued to extend their lead. By the time they reached the fourth gate at 13:07, their lead had grown to a massive 700 metres. Alinghi Red Bull Racing, falling further and further behind, crossed the gate 39 seconds after the UK.
Both teams were flying up leg 5 at around 36 knots, but the Swiss simply couldn’t match the raw speed and precision of the British team. INEOS Britannia had built an unassailable lead, and with only one leg remaining, the race was all but decided.
As INEOS Britannia passed through the final gate with a time of 17:34, they were an astonishing 600 metres ahead of Alinghi Red Bull Racing. The Swiss, still pushing as hard as they could, crossed the gate 45 seconds later, having fallen further behind with each leg.
By the time INEOS Britannia entered the final leg, they had a 1km lead on their Swiss rivals. There was no question about who would win this race. The British team sailed smoothly and efficiently to the finish line, crossing it at 20:39. It was an emphatic and well-deserved victory for INEOS Britannia, showcasing their superior speed and race strategy.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing, although outmatched, showed perseverance and determination to the end. They finished the race 53 seconds after the UK, a significant margin in a contest of this calibre.
This race was a masterclass from INEOS Britannia. From the moment they took the lead in the first leg, they never looked back. Their ability to extend their advantage with each leg was impressive, and by the final gate, it was clear that they were simply the better team on the day.
For Alinghi Red Bull Racing, this race will serve as a tough lesson. While they remain a strong team, it’s evident that they have work to do if they want to compete at the level required to challenge the best in the America’s Cup. The Swiss will need to regroup and come back stronger in future races if they hope to close the gap on their rivals.
Sadly for them, they will race again today but are facing New Zealand – surely another loss to the Swiss in that race.
In the end, this was a decisive victory for INEOS Britannia, showing they are far better than the lower teams Orient Express and Alinghi.
