Hamburg & Schleswig-Holstein: “Britannia” in the America’s Cup final

Hamburg & Schleswig-Holstein
“Britannia” in the America’s Cup final

October 4, 2024, 3:41 p.m

Great Britain’s sailors are back in an America’s Cup final after 60 years. Before Barcelona, ​​“Britannia” defeated Italy’s Silver Arrows “Luna Rossa” in the challenger final.

Barcelona (dpa/lno) – Sir Ben Ainslie’s team Ineos Britannia has won the challenger series for the 37th America’s Cup. In the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the sailors on “Britannia” beat the Italian “Luna Rossa” 7:4. The co-pilots Ben Ainslie, Dylan Fletcher and their team won the decisive seventh victory point in the eleventh encounter with the Azzurri on the sailing stage in front of Barcelona. For the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, the defeat meant the end of all America’s Cup dreams, even in racing team founder Patrizio Bertelli’s seventh Cup attempt since the turn of the millennium.

Great Britain’s America’s Cup hunters had to wait 60 years before they could get back into a match for the prestigious trophy. In 1964 it was the last time the British “Sovereign” had to bow to the American Cup defenders on the “Constellation” with a score of 0:4. Although the Cup premiere took place in British waters off the Isle of Wight in 1851, Britain’s sailors have never won sailing’s oldest and most important trophy.

“Britannia” sails in the final against New Zealand

“We set out to bring the America’s Cup home ten years ago. Today is a more massive day for all of us,” said Ineos Britannias CEO, skipper and helmsman Ben Ainslie after the challenger series win. Chief designer Martin Fischer is also involved in the British success of the team led by the four-time Olympic champion. The 61-year-old had previously worked for the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team before moving to his dream team Ineos Britannia. In the 37th match for the America’s Cup, Ineos Britannia will face the four-time Cup winners from New Zealand from October 12th. Emirates Team New Zealand is heading for its third consecutive Cup victory.