Emirates Team New Zealand begin the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta with a win over Luna Rossa

Emirates Workforce New Zealand start the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta with a win over Luna Rossa

by Emirates Workforce New Zealand 22 Aug 12:54 PDT
22-25 August 2024

The Louis Vuitton thirty seventh America’s Cup is beneath manner in Barcelona after a primary day of motion for the six groups to seek out their ft of their opening preliminary regatta races.

With a perfect 12-14 knots of breeze in a lumpy sea state in entrance of the enduring Barcelona backdrop, Emirates Workforce New Zealand started as they left off with a win of their first race towards very long time adversarys Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, with clear indicators that the shut battle from AC36 is about to proceed every time these groups meet.

Two groups with a historical past, this was the blockbuster, with a lot revealed round each the beginning ways and general game-plans of those ultra-competitive groups. Nathan Outteridge drove ‘Taihoro’ over the beginning line on the port gate for Emirates Workforce New Zealand while Jimmy Spithill introduced Luna Rossa in from starboard for the pre-start fireworks.

Outteridge was nearly bang on the button on the entry and headed swiftly to the proper facet of the field with the Italians giving chase. Each boats dialled deep however on the flip again to the road, it is the Kiwis who swapped locations and lined as much as leeward, holding the Italians excessive after which dialling away to the pin finish of the road with Luna Rossa gassed to windward and compelled to tack.

Emirates Workforce New Zealand tacked instantly to cowl and it turned a sensible drag race out to the right-hand facet of the course. The Kiwis executed a lee-bow tack to power the Italians off once more after which cowl.

It was the makings of a good tacking duel earlier than Luna Rossa appeared to have a methods concern onboard and after a tack again onto starboard, the boat nosedived with the comms revealing that the group “had misplaced the boat”. Francesco Bruni confirmed a shut down for some 20 seconds in interview afterwards.

Emirates Workforce New Zealand left to successfully sail a observe race from there on, however after rounding the windward mark, Luna Rossa had been again and working, albeit quite gingerly and made chase earlier than retiring on recommendation from their Chase Boat.

Emirates Workforce New Zealand sailed on to document their first victory of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta.

Flight controller Andy Maloney stated: “Within the pre begin we had been main again in direction of the road and so they had been pushing at us, we had been each on two boards discovering the restrict there. The set off pull off the road was the principle factor which was good and the primary few exchanges on the upwind had been a fairly shut tacking duel. In these circumstances you understand you may maintain the battle shut and we’ll see some epic racing.

We’re actually pleased with how we executed that first a part of the race and we’re wanting ahead to a superb battle there. We’ll go debrief that race and begin seeing what we will be taught from there.”

Each level is treasured within the America’s Cup, irrespective of the way it comes or who it’s towards. For Emirates Workforce New Zealand there are two extra factors on provide tomorrow up towards INEOS Britannia within the second race of the day and Orient Categorical Racing Workforce within the 4th flight of the day.