October’s World Sailing Show recaps the first ever Women’s America’s Cup in Barcelona

Overcoming the choppy conditions off the Brittany coast, the top 10 headed to the final where the 30 knot winds continued and powered the teams along the 150 nautical mile route. After 27 hours of racing, five boats were within minutes of each other just as the wind dropped, leading to a very tense finish.

• Offshore Double Handed World Championships brings 22 teams to Lorient
• All the action from the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup
• How the Puig Women’s America’s Cup was won
• Report on the 37th America’s Cup so far
• Preparation for the Vendee Globe underway
• 52 Super Series heads to Valencia for the title decider
• World Sailing Awards nominees recognise the best and brightest from across the sport

Alongside the 37th America’s Cup, Barcelona has also been hosting the Women’s and Youth America’s Cups. Using AC40s, the Youth crews proved their credentials as America’s Cup stars of the future, and after several close finishes, it was the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team skippered by Marco Gradoni who led from start to finish in the final to defeat American Magic. Gradoni, along with co-helmsman Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Ugolini, and trimmers Rocco Falcone and Federico Colaninno are tipped for greatness in the sport and from this display it was clear to see why.

Preparations are underway in Les Sables-d’Olonne for the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, the single-handed round-the-world odyssey aboard 18-metre IMOCAs. Beginning on 10 November 2024, three months at sea, passing the three legendary Capes, and 45,000 miles of ocean lay ahead, and the teams have joined forces to help each other get into the best shape ahead of this epic race. The World Sailing Show hears from skippers Thomas Ruyant and Sam Goodchild as they get ready to put their friendship to the side in order to guide their team home in first place.

The final event of this year’s 52 Super Series took the teams to Valencia, Spain, for the Royal Cup and championship decider. Gladiator went into the event with a narrow lead over Quantum Racing, but the offshore winds proved difficult, and as Gladiator struggled, both Quantum and Platoon set the early pace. With all three teams in with a chance of glory, the final winner-takes-all race would be decisive. The World Sailing Show has all the action from an exciting finale.

This year’s Puig Women’s America’s Cup was the first in the history of the event. Difficult conditions greeted the teams, but it was the British team on board Athena Pathway who won the first ever Women’s America’s Cup race. From there, though, the event would be dominated by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli helmed by Giulia Conti, who notched three successive wins to take control of the group. Out of the invited teams it was Sweden who took an early lead, ahead of the Dutch team.

Moving on to the knockout round, it would be the Brits and Italians facing off again in the final with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli having the opportunity to add to the Youth America’s Cup trophy. The World Sailing Show meets the crews and has all of the highlights from a historic race.

Finally, with this year’s World Sailing Awards taking place in Singapore next month, the World Sailing Show looks at just some of the standout performers in what has been a spectacular year for the sport. Their achievements will be celebrated at the historic CHIJMES Hall on 5 November. The finalists will be announced on the World Sailing website along with how to watch the gala ceremony live on the night.

Produced and released every month, the World Sailing Show shares the latest news, events, and captivating stories from across the sport with audiences around the world. Each episode is available to watch for free on the World Sailing YouTube channel and the World Sailing website.

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Image courtesy of the America’s Cup.