BARCELONA MEMORIES: THE LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA’S CUP MATCH
Ahead of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match in Barcelona, that started on Saturday 12th October 2024, there were more questions than answers. Emirates Team New Zealand, the Defender, were going for an unprecedented three-in-row of wins, something that had never been done in the Cup’s 173-year history. INEOS Britannia, the Challenger of Record, meanwhile was making history themselves. Having dispatched Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli to win the Louis Vuitton Cup, becoming the first British Challenger in an America’s Cup Match in 60 years, the British won the right to contest the oldest trophy in international sports.
RELIVE THE FINAL DAY OF THE LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA'S CUP
As the Defender, and while also having led the early standings, Emirates Team New Zealand was excused from racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup after the first two Round Robins and before the Semi-Finals. This sparked speculation about whether they would be battle-hardened enough for the contest. The Challenger meanwhile had proven themselves through intense competition, coming through the Semi-Final against Alinghi Red Bull Racing and then defeating the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team 7-4 in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final in some of the most memorable racing of the summer in Barcelona.
The question marks hung in the air as battles commenced in the Match in light airs of 8-12 knots and immediately it was Emirates Team New Zealand that laid down the markers. A brilliant start by the Kiwis in the opening race left the British on the back-foot and by the end of the day’s racing they found themselves 2-0 down. As the weekend concluded, after some impressive tactical moves and fast sailing, Emirates Team New Zealand were in a commanding 3-0 position and extended further on Monday 14th October 2024 after a tense and close race to sit just three wins away from retaining the trophy at 4-0.
RELIVE ALL RACES ON VIRTUAL EYE TO GET ALL STATS AND RACE INSIGHTS.
Heads, though, were anything but down in the British camp. A comeback felt like it was on, with co-helmsman Dylan Fletcher saying: “I think that people have been doubting us from the start, but we've proven people wrong all along the way and we feel like we can take this to them, and we'll just see how it goes on Wednesday [Race Day 4]. It's disappointing but there’s a lot of belief and it's not over yet.”
That proved to be correct, as the scheduled two races on Wednesday 16th October 2024, yielded two stunning race wins for the British in an awkward Barcelona sea-state and 7-11 knots of breeze. For the British, it was a re-write of history. The last time a British team had won two races in an America’s Cup Match was some ninety years previously in 1934 when Sir T.O.M. Sopwith’s Endeavour scored the first two wins of the series before Harold Vanderbilt’s Rainbow came back strongly and clinched the series 4-2.
A breath of relief onboard INEOS Britannia after securing two wins on the fourth Race Day. Photos: Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
Tails were up in the British camp and belief coursed through the base in Port Vell where hundreds of fans greeted the dock-in. For Emirates Team New Zealand, they knew now that this was not going to be a cakewalk to victory, and after a scheduled lay-day on the Thursday, came out with a point to prove on Friday 18th October 2024. Two well executed race wins in a calm sea-state took the Kiwis to match point at 6-2 and there was an air of inevitability heading into the decisive weekend of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.
The morning of Saturday 19th October 2024 saw spectacle aplenty with Barcelona’s Port Vell filling with spectator crafts of all shapes and sizes eager to get close to the AC75 yachts on their dock-out whilst shoreside, thousands of fans gathered at the team bases of Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia to see off the sailors in style.
The full team of Emirates Team New Zealand attends the dock-outs in Port Vell—Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei perform traditional karakias and hakas to wish the sailors a successfull regatta. Photos: Ian Roman / America's Cup
For the Kiwi fans, the sight of the famous Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei performing a ceremonial Māori haka before leading the yacht out in Te Kawau—a traditional waka (canoe)—set the tone for the day and it was all on in shifting conditions with the famous America’s Cup trophy within reach.
Emirates Team New Zealand didn’t disappoint. From the start they read the shifting conditions better, eased into more pressure and sailed to a hard-fought 37 second victory. The defence of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup was secured, and Barcelona went wild with hundreds of boats surrounding the team’s yacht and helicopters in the sky as the team raised a giant flag with the Catalan words: ‘Moltes Gràcies Barcelona’—‘Many Thanks, Barcelona.’
A historical day for Emirates Team New Zealand, and a celebration for Barcelona. Photos: Ricardo Pinto (left) & Ian Roman (right), America's Cup
Bernard Arnault, the Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, and Pietro Beccari, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton were welcomed aboard the winning yacht Taihoro by the Kiwi sailors before the customary spraying of Moët & Chandon champagne in celebration. Later that evening the trophy was presented on the main stage in Port Vell under the lights and amidst a blizzard of confetti. It was a fitting finale. Emirates Team New Zealand had completed the ‘three peat’ becoming the first single team to win three consecutive America’s Cup Matches.
Bernard Arnault and Pietro Beccari congratulate the winners of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo: Ivo Rovira / America's Cup
Kevin Shoebridge, Chief Operating Officer for Emirates Team New Zealand very much saw it as a team effort all round, saying: “It’s an amazing feeling. I'm just so thrilled that it played out like it did today. It's been a tough couple of months, today made it all worth it. It has been a fantastic team effort from day one and I think that was shown in the way we performed today.”
Reflecting on the huge contribution that Sir Ben Ainslie’s British team made to the event, Shoebridge added: “We have got a really close relationship with Ben and his team. They are great competitors, had a great boat, and it has been fantastic to have them in the competition. We just got the better of them this time, but it wasn't easy—it was tough. So great respect to them for their campaign.”
Ben Ainslie and Athena Racing will be back for the challenge of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Photos: Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
Sir Ben Ainslie, understandably disappointed, reflected on a remarkable campaign for the British saying: “Mixed emotions of course, first of all I’ve got to say credit to Emirates Team New Zealand, an amazing achievement for that organisation and for our team to get into the America's Cup itself was a huge achievement… Ultimately to fall short at the final hurdle is always tough, but we know that we've been up against one of the best if not ‘the’ best team in the history of the Cup. We have to take that on the chin, and I think that the team have done a brilliant job to develop through this campaign, and through this series. As one very plucky Brit (Sir Winston Churchill) said, ‘it’s the courage to continue that counts’, so that's what we're up for.”
A mighty rivalry was started in Barcelona and will continue into the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples in 2027 where Sir Ben Ainslie’s team will be back on the starting line with Athena Racing. Italy promises to capture and propel the magic of the event that was so prevalent in Barcelona, and with huge excitement building for Naples, the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup is all set to eclipse anything seen before.
The countdown is now on to Naples. Be there.
by Magnus Wheatley
RELIVE THE RACES OF THE LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA'S CUP
We dived into the archives to uncover the decisive moments that shaped every race on the way to winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. Each turning point is tagged in the description of the full video below, featuring all nine races of the Match – watch it on our YouTube channel to explore these race highlights.
Want to dig deeper? Head to Virtual Eye for the complete replay. Packed with interactive insights on wind speeds, boat performance, and tactical data like VMG and true wind speed. See each race through the sailors’ eyes… and find out if you would’ve made the same calls.
REWATCH ALL RACES OF THE LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA'S CUP MATCH IN BARCELONA IN 2024.
The Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, Naples 2027
For the first time ever the Louis Vuitton Cup and Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Match will be sailed in Italy, a country with one of the most colourful and enthusiastic America’s Cup histories.
In 2027, the world will look to Italy and specifically to Naples, the capital of the Campania region in Italy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most ancient cities in Europe, as it becomes the Host City for the world’s oldest international sports trophy.
The fight for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup will take place under the watchful shadow of Mt Vesuvius and just off the waterfront of the vibrant city. With a proud heritage and rich history, Italy and Naples offer the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup an unparalleled experience that one way or another is certain to add to the myth, obsession, rivalry and innovation of the America’s Cup.
All eyes will be back on the beautiful city of Naples as they will host the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup and welcome the world. Photo: Unsplash