The America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand win the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta

Undoubtedly the race of the regatta, we saw match-racing of the highest order with the finest helmsmen on both teams going head-to head in a race where no quarter was given right from the start. Thrilling, engrossing, it was simply sporting brilliance and a huge advert for the Louis Vuitton Cup that starts on 29 August.

Peter Burling, skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand was understandably delighted with the win but described what it was like onboard, saying: “I think just incredibly challenging to sail in those conditions, we had a fair few issues we were managing on the boat, but we lucked-out in the pre-start and got a penalty on them, I was amazed the second penalty got turned off when it did with them still ahead of us – but then to stick to our guns and make a pass from there was really pleasing.”

And Burling further added: “We were expecting it to be tight and we were struggling to get the shifts right, but it’s going to be a close regatta. It’s all about making sure you get the phases right and sail the boat in the right places. I think we were a little frustrated with how we sailed today but plenty to go back and have a look at afterwards.”

Aside from the final, we also had three high-quality races with all six teams in action and with the weather changing to an east-south-east direction, bringing with it a vicious swell, we saw overtaking aplenty and a marker of intent laid down by the New York Yacht Club American Magic team.

Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison, sailing ‘Patriot’ inflicted the first defeat of the regatta on Emirates Team New Zealand with a stunning display of boatspeed, tactics and technique. On the day, the Americans were a class apart but with their place already secured in the final by dint of a 100%-win record coming into today, there was no panic from the Kiwis.

The final race of the day – the final of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta – was a classic. This was high-performance foiling racing of the highest order with the rules being tested from the start and desperately close boat-on-boat action all throughout the race. Emirates Team New Zealand came out on top, picking the pressure well on the final run to the finish but for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli it was an outstanding performance.

With the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta trophy presented to Emirates Team New Zealand by local blind Patí Català sailor Dani A. Pich, on the main stage at the Official Race Village on the Moll de la Fusta in the Port Vell, the curtain comes down on a thrilling regatta that revealed much.

All eyes are now on the Louis Vuitton Cup, starting on Thursday 29 August where every race and every point matters. The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup is about to get serious.

Text and images courtesy of The America’s Cup. To read the full release, visit americascup.com.