Under the leadership of four-time Olympic champion sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, the British crew aboard the AC 75 yacht Ineos Britannia have qualified for the final of the 37th edition of the America’s Cup.
Racing in the waters off Barcelona, Spain, the crew had been locked in a fascinating duel with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the best of 13 series, in the final of the Louis Vuitton Challenger series.
With the teams matching each other, the score was 1-1,2-2,3-3 and 4-4. Then, on Friday, came the big showdown with Britannia going into the first of the day’s 2 races, 6-4 up, knowing a win in race one would be enough. So it was. For the Brits, it was sweet revenge. In 2021, the Italians triumphed 7-1 in the then Prada Cup Challenger Series final.
In the 36th edition of the America’s Cup proper, Emirates Team NZ dispatched the Italians 7-3.
Of course, Britain, despite many challenges down the years, has never managed to win back the trophy, first raced for around the Isle of Wight on 22nd August 1851.
In that inaugural challenge, America was triumphant against 14 British yachts. Subsequently, the original RYS £100 Cup was taken back to the New York Yacht Club. After being engraved, the trophy was screwed to the floor. There it remained through 24 different, but unsuccessful, challenges over the ensuing decades until 1983.
That year, the Louis Vuitton Challenge was instigated. In the final, Australia 2 beat Victory 83-Royal Burnham Yacht Club, 4-1 before contesting the 25th America’s Cup.
In September 1983, Liberty (USA), skippered by Dennis Conner, took on Australia 2 only to relinquish the trophy 3-4.
Sovereign, under the flag of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, was the last British challenger in September 1964. Constellation (USA) successfully defended the trophy 4-0.
On Saturday 12th October 2024, Sir Ben Ainslie’s Ineos Britannia, under the burgee of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes will begin their quest against Emirates Team NZ’s Taihoro.
Sir Ben will take the starboard helm, with Olympian Dylan Fletcher, a late replacement for Giles Scott, on the port helm. Also on board will be Island-born Trimmer Leigh McMillan in his 3rd America’s Cup campaign. The winner of the contest will be the first boat to reach 7 wins. Crews will number 8 members at any one time.
Should the America’s Cup trophy return to its spiritual home of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, it will not be the first time it has been seen in the town as it was on the Island for the 150th anniversary of the America’s Cup in 2001.