SoftBank Team Japan will compete for the 35th America’s Cup after its challenge through the Kansai Yacht Club was accepted by the Golden Gate Yacht…
Emirates Team New Zealand won the 37th America’s Cup on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Barcelona, Spain after a final race against the Challenger of Record, INEOS Britannia. The race ebbed and flowed from the outset, but New Zealand ultimately won by 37 seconds.
Emirates Team New Zealand were the first to gybe down the boundary, but INEOS Britannia had gybed inside onto New Zealand’s bow. The New Zealand crew tried to break free with two tacks on the lead back, but the British matched them well.
INEOS Britannia sat to leeward as the set-up began for the line, attempting to force a shutout at the right-hand end of the line, but in the final seconds the boats bore away down the line, allowing New Zealand to assume the windward position and tack off immediately for the right border. On the tack back, New Zealand had the right-of-way advantage and crossed, ignoring the chance to tack immediately. Instead, they sailed directly into increase pressure and a favorite shift that helped them get further boat lengths ahead, securing them the lead when they tacked back.
Peter Burling, Nathan Outteridge, Blair Tuke, and Andy Maloney shared information and reacted efficiently, securing them the victory. Emirates Team New Zealand made history by being the first continuous team to win the America’s Cup three times in a row.
“It’s a pretty surreal feeling, it’s still definitely sinking in. In the America’s Cup you’re all ready for a long battle but to be able to get it done today in just beautiful sailing conditions with a little bit of shift in it and just so many people cheering us on, was amazing,” Burling said. “Just incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. The America’s Cup has got to be one of the hardest sporting trophies in the world to win. You’ve got to have so many parts come together to make it all work and now having done that three times in a row, it’s incredibly special.”