New Zealand’s sailing team has extended their lead to 4-0 in the America’s Cup, following a tightly contested race against Ineos Britannia. While the British crew, led by Ben Ainslie, showed early promise, the New Zealanders ultimately secured another commanding victory, edging closer to retaining the prestigious trophy.
The British team got off to a strong start, even managing to take an early lead during the first leg of the race. For a brief moment, the two boats were neck and neck, with New Zealand passing perilously close to Britannia. Ainslie made a call for a penalty, claiming interference, but the appeal was quickly dismissed.
However, after New Zealand overtook Britannia in the second leg, it became clear which team was gaining the upper hand. As the race progressed, New Zealand increased their lead significantly, widening the gap from 145 meters to 258 meters by the fifth leg. They crossed the finish line 340 meters and 23 seconds ahead of the British boat, securing their fourth consecutive win.
The race, initially scheduled for Sunday, had been postponed due to a lack of wind. On Monday, with calm conditions and wind speeds of just 8-12 knots, New Zealand’s tactical expertise and skill in reading weather patterns proved to be decisive, as both teams were otherwise closely matched in terms of performance.
“Every win on the board is a super nice one,” said New Zealand skipper Peter Burling. “It felt more like a boat race today than yesterday. It’s nice to keep marching forward.”
Co-skipper Nathan Outteridge echoed Burling’s sentiments, describing the race as a challenge. “It was a tight start. We had to work hard to get off the boundary on the left side, but when the opportunity came to cross over to the right, we managed to gain a little advantage,” he explained. “We’ve made progress with the boat’s performance, and we’re happy with the result, but there’s still more to come.”
The British team remained determined despite the defeat. Notably absent from Monday’s post-race proceedings was any repeat of Ainslie’s fiery outburst from the previous day, when he had called New Zealand commentator Stephen McIvor a “fucking wanker” for suggesting that New Zealand was the superior team. Instead, the mood was more reflective as Ainslie acknowledged the challenge his crew faces.
“It was a good race with a good start,” Ainslie said, praising the New Zealand team’s performance. “They did really well, and we need to figure out how to take it to them. We’re going to keep pushing all the way; we can still come back from this.”
Ainslie conceded that New Zealand’s crew is in strong form but noted that his team has had its moments as well. “There are times when we’re just missing a little bit, and that’s making the difference. We’ll take a day on shore and see how we can find some gains.”
Leigh McMillan, trimmer on the Britannia, expressed cautious optimism, saying that the team has been making incremental improvements. “It’s not big steps that we need to take, just little ones, and I think we’re making those steps,” McMillan remarked.
With racing set to resume on Wednesday, the British team will have time to regroup and strategize on how to overcome a New Zealand team that seems composed and brimming with confidence. The New Zealanders exhibit a sense of self-belief reminiscent of their nation’s rugby team, the All Blacks, where the mindset is not just about winning but about refusing to consider the possibility of losing.
Still, despite their comfortable 4-0 lead in the best-of-13 series, New Zealand is unlikely to relax just yet. Memories of the 2013 America’s Cup remain fresh, when the Kiwis held an 8-1 lead in a 17-race series only to watch the U.S. team make a stunning comeback to win eight straight races and claim the Cup. The tactician behind that dramatic U.S. victory? None other than Ben Ainslie.
For now, Ainslie and his crew remain determined to mount a similar comeback, but with the New Zealand team continuing to dominate, the challenge has never been greater.
Related topics:
- Nedd Brockmann’s Agony-Filled 1,000-Mile Charity Run Raises $1.3M
- Ruth Chepngetich Breaks Marathon World Record in Chicago
- New Zealand Takes Commanding 3-0 Lead in America’s Cup After British Penalty