The race, proved to be a masterclass by INEOS Britannia, who gradually pulled ahead to secure a convincing win – crossing the line over 2 minutes ahead of the Swiss boat Alinghi.
Race Review
At the start, Alinghi Red Bull Racing took an early lead, crossing the first gate with a 40-metre advantage. The Swiss team held their position, playing smartly and positioning themselves near the boundary, which helped them extend their lead to 100 metres. The Swiss crossed the first gate at 4:37, with INEOS hot on their heels, just 11 seconds behind.
As both teams entered the second leg, INEOS Britannia made their move, steadily closing the gap. By the halfway mark, the British team had overtaken Alinghi, with a lead of 150 metres. Both boats were pushing hard, flying down the leg at 34 knots. INEOS continued to build on their lead, stretching it to 280 metres before passing through the second gate at 9:16, while the Swiss trailed by 28 seconds.
Despite the growing gap, the Swiss team chased hard, but INEOS Britannia remained in control. By the time the British team passed through the third gate at 12:31, they were 500 metres ahead. The Swiss then suffered a critical setback, falling off their foils halfway through leg four, which extended INEOS‘ lead to a staggering 1,100 metres. The British team passed through gate four at 16:01, with the Swiss now a distant 1 minute and 24 seconds behind.
While Alinghi managed to recover slightly in the fifth leg, gaining 200 metres as INEOS encountered a brief mishap slowing down and narrowly avoiding their own off-foil incident, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. The British team, back up to speed, crossed the final gate at 20:31, still 500 metres ahead. INEOS Britannia powered through the final leg at 40 knots, with a massive lead of 1,350 metres as they approached the finish line.
The race ended with INEOS Britannia claiming a decisive victory, finishing at 23:32. Alinghi Red Bull Racing crossed the line 2 minutes and 5 seconds later, marking a tough loss for the Swiss team.
This race highlighted INEOS Britannia’s strength and deserved position as the winner of the Round Robin series – and showcased that they had selected to race against Alinghi who are at the bottom of the table, and who were today clearly in a far lesser league.
This has sent a clear message to Alinghi – you can simply not make errors at this level of America’s Cup racing.
The defending champions will surely be taking note, as the British team looks like a formidable force as they continue their campaign towards the America’s Cup. Despite their efforts, Alinghi Red Bull Racing couldn’t match the pace, but their plucky attitude was evident throughout the race.
This is the America’s Cup – tomorrow the outcome may not be the same – but for today all credit to INEOS Britannia, their win is well deserved, today the best team was clear.
