America's Cup: Dream conditions produce high action on Day 2 in Jeddah

From early morning, the glittering Red Sea was alive with boats of all hues as the Jeddah Yacht Club Academy took to the water in a fleet of RS Zest and Laser dinghies, whilst some interesting racing happened in the Far East 28R sportsboats, decked out in the national flags of all the competing America’s Cup teams – for the record, the USA flagged boat was winning. The next generation of Saudi sailors have been encouraged this week with visits from representatives of all the teams who have taken time out of their racing schedule to inspire the young girls and boys of the Kingdom in this visionary Academy that offers opportunity for all.

With a large VIP attendance at the Jeddah Yacht Club, crowds at the Race Village and an enthusiastic spectator fleet corralled on the left-hand side of the racecourse, they were treated to some of the finest boat-on-boat action ever seen in the America’s Cup. All through the fleet it was as close as it could be and after the AC40’s had completed their much-appreciated fly-by, ahead of racing that saw the yachts scream down to the bustling Race Village and Fan Zone, it was down to business with so many storylines waiting to be written.

The first race didn’t disappoint with the young Italian team stealing into a lead after some very close action and streaking ahead to win by a margin. Emirates Team New Zealand kept them honest to cross second and then put the hammer down in the second race (Race 5 of the series) to win a thrilling, close-fought, almost match-race to the finish. These two teams, the America’s Cup Match contenders from AC36 back in Auckland in 2021, were giving no quarter with the young Italian guns giving the vastly experienced Defenders of the America’s Cup a real run for their money.

One apiece between the Italians and the Kiwis, they appeared a class apart from the rest, and put everything on the line for Race 6 of the series, but a penalty at the start line for an infringement on Alinghi Red Bull Racing saw the Italians on the back-foot. Emirates Team New Zealand put on a masterclass of high stakes racing, dicing tack after tack and gybe after gybe at the front of the fleet over three laps of the 1.35 nautical mile course with NYYC American Magic and Alinghi Red Bull Racing.

Multiple lead changes occurred in a building sea-state with each boat taking the lead position at times but at the finish, it was Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge who kept their helming cool, seized the lead on the final upwind leg and finished the day with two wins and secured a guaranteed spot in the Grand Final. Mathematically it’s a three-way battle now between Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Alinghi Red Bull Racing and INEOS Britannia to take the other place in the final with the Italian team in pole position to secure the spot. All to play for.

The quality of the racing and the closeness of the action were the big take-aways of the day and the stage is set for the most thrilling conclusion to this remarkable, world-class regatta in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Jeddah was at its very best today from start to finish and the finest sailors in the world put on an unforgettable show that will live long in the America’s Cup memory. Outstanding sailing from outstanding sailors in a dream-like venue that ticks every box.

Text and images courtesy of The America’s Cup. For more information and to read the full release, please visit americascup.com.