ISLE OF Wight Olympic gold winner, Sir Ben Ainslie, has guided INEOS Britannia to a spot in the Louis Vuitton 37th Americas Cup semi-final in Barcelona, breaking Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli’s unbeaten streak in the process.
Racing for the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, Britannia crossed the finish line against the Italian team with a clean 25-second advantage on the penultimate day of Round Robin 2.
Britannia, which qualified as one of the top two teams, also demonstrated resiliency and team work in a race against Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
The day started with an unexpected hurdle when their rudder hit a log during training.
Using their 15-minute delay card, they assessed potential damage and, displaying admirable adaptability, took the opportunity to adjust their jib to the unexpectedly heavy wind.
Britannia skipper, Sir Ben Ainslie, from Seaview, on the Isle of Wight, said: "It’s massive for the whole team to get two wins — especially the win against Luna Rossa.
"It’s not just the team on-board, but those back at our base and back in the UK, it’s a huge win for everyone."
The shore team’s proficiency was instrumental in changing the jib under extreme pressure which enabled the sailing team to secure a win.
Sir Ben praised his crew's ability to adapt to unanticipated circumstances.
He added: "It was cracking conditions out there, but it was also tough in that sea state.
"The shore team did an amazing job to get that done under some real time pressure."
Their second challenge against Luna Rossa was anticipated to be tough, as the Italian rivals had been unbeaten until that point.
Yet, Ainslie and his team managed to not only secure a win, but also break the Italians' unbeaten streak in the series, playing a significant role in reviving British hopes for the Americas Cup.
They controlled the race, turning an initial eight-second lead at the first gate into a substantial 29-second lead by lap two, pushing past Luna Rossa, thus cementing their place in the semi-finals.
Sir Ben remained optimistic about future matches as he said: "Looking ahead to the next round I think we’ve got plenty of potential.
"It’s just all about getting the maximum out of the boat and sailing well."
These consecutive triumphs have bookmarked a triumphant day for Team Britannia and the UK, showcasing their talent, teamwork, and indomitable spirit.
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