EMIRATES TEM NEW ZEALAND WIN THE LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA'S CUP

AMERICA’S CUP RACE REPORT

Race 9

History could be about to be made as Race 9 gets underway with ETNZ entering from the port side with the wind filling in from the south-west to above the wind-limit of 6.5 knots but with lighter air at the top of the course and gusts up to 11 knots at the bottom. ETNZ enters smartly on time and goes for the immediate cross as IB come in fast at the starboard end and gybe immediately onto ETNZ’s line. ETNZ lead out to the right boundary and gybe to go deep, IB gybe inside to take the lead position but ETNZ tack and then tack again, followed by IB who set up in front for the final lead back to the line and filtering as much dirty air as possible on ETNZ.

In the final approaches, IB attempt to shut out ETNZ but both boats dial away to the start line and ETNZ tacks immediately to the right at the start. IB carries on before covering and ETNZ tacks back on to starboard to take the lead at the first cross. IB ducks and carries on to the right boundary whilst ETNZ sees breeze mid-course and sails into it out left.

IB suffer on a left shift whilst ETNZ tacks on it and crosses two boatlengths ahead. And stretches to a lead of 130 metres as they tack back to the right side of the course. IB on the back-foot here. ETNZ comes far right, looking to click into pressure in the tip-right quadrant as IB follows. A tack on the right boundary brings ETNZ onto the starboard layline in the final approaches to the windward gate but they tack onto the port layline to take the starboard marker and round with a lead up to 19 seconds. ETNZ go immediately left (looking down the course) as IB takes the port marker and goes right.

IB first to gybe as ETNZ persists to the left and bounces off the boundary to come back and cross some 280 metres ahead. IB in touch and trying to use their downwind speed as they gybe off the left boundary but ETNZ click into pressure down the course and make gains with the lead now above 330 metres. ETNZ set up for the leeward gate, gybing onto the port layline and electing to round up at the starboard marker.

IB round at the port marker, 22 seconds behind and head right immediately up the second beat on leg three of six. IB tacks soon after the mark to engage with ETNZ and have closed the distance as ETNZ tack to cover closely. After IB tack off to the right boundary, ETNZ ignores the move and carries on left on a shift and pressure but the lead is down to just over 100 metres and this race is far from done. At the cross back, ETNZ cover and bounce IB off to the right side of the course and they tack before the boundary.

IB comes back on starboard with the lead down to 50 metres and ETNZ tack immediately on their bow. IB tack off for the boundary again and come back on starboard but the distance is shortening and a tack to leeward by ETNZ sees a drag race with IB trying to power over the top. ETNZ eke out to leeward with both boats over the starboard layline for the second top gate. ETNZ elect to take the port marker, IB tacks around the starboard market. The delta is 0.0 seconds.

IB go left down the run to the left boundary, ETNZ gybe immediately to cover and both boats heading to the left boundary with ETNZ to leeward. IB gybe first and ETNZ are clear ahead by over 180 metres ahead, sailing in more pressure and continuing to the left boundary. A gybe at the boundary is nailed by ETNZ who are coming down to the final leeward gate on starboard gybe whilst IB comes across on port. ETNZ clear ahead and gybe cover onto port gybe for the final approach to the leeward gate.

ETNZ rounds up at the port marker with a 12 second lead as IB elects to take the starboard marker and goes left up the final beat. ETNZ tacks over to cover IB and as the boats cross, ETNZ are ahead by just over 100 metres and tack on IB’s line, forcing them away to the left. ETNZ protecting the right, IB see pressure perhaps to the left.

IB tack on the left boundary and have closed in again. ETNZ cross as they click into a right hand shift and then tack on top of IB who tack away back to the left. ETNZ covers again once up to full speed and when IB tack back, again they get a face full of ETNZ as the starboard layline approaches. ETNZ tacks on the layline and sets up for the final gate, bearing away at the port marker at 43 knots with a lead of 17 seconds as IB tacks around the starboard marker and goes left down the run.

ETNZ gybe out of the right boundary with a lead in excess of 300 metres and are setting up here for a grandstand finish, sailing fast towards the left of the course and spying the pressure patches down the course. Both boats minimising manoeuvres and ETNZ sail fast and smooth down towards the port layline before gybing and angling towards the finish line.

Emirates Team New Zealand win the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup with a finishing delta of 37 seconds. The crew jump out of their pods to celebrate with each other - a momentous win and history made here in Barcelona.

Emirates Team New Zealand bt INEOS Britannia (37 seconds)