Puig Women’s America’s Cup – Italy tops the leader board after a strange Day 1

Puig Women’s America’s Cup – Italy tops the leader board after a strange Day 1

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 5 Oct 18:01 UTC
6 October 2024

Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI) – Group A – Puig Women’s America’s Cup – Group A – October 5, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup

The Luna Rossa Women’s America’s Cup team took up where the Italian Youth crew left off, topping the leaderboard after Day 1 of the Puig Women’s America’s Cup.

Four fleet races were scheduled between the six Group A teams – those affiliated with an America’s Cup teams

Once again the Barcelona weather was unbelievable running the gamut from zero through to 15-18kts, and on one occasion going through that range in the one leg. On another it literally turned off as the boats initially foiled towards the finish line, and then had to coast across the last few metres to finish.

At one point rounding a gate at the bottom of the course they foiled up to it, and then most of the fleet fell off their foils and then wallow and flap their way to a patch of breeze so they could get foiling again.

The seastate varied between flat water and surf – which makes for some exciting sailing in the AC40’s however the sailors did in the conditions, when a capsize or two would have been excusable.
Again that backdrop the first day of racing in the Women’s America’s Cup with a higher standard of sailing than the opening day of the Youth America’s Cup.

The first race initially appeared to be a dress rehearsal for the test of the regatta with The British crew led by triple Olympic medalist Hannah Mills, leading off the start and easing away over each of the four legs.

Italy skippered by Giulia Conti, who has represented Italy at four Olympics in three classes, blotted their copybook, by nudging the first mark and coming off their foils. They dropped through to the back of the fleet, but recovered well to finish fourth, and won the remaining three places to top the Day 1 leaderboard, with Great Britain second and New Zealand 11pts back in third.

Tomorrow, it is the turn of the Group B teams – who are not affiliated with any America’s Cup team, but have been invited to compete on the other side of the draw in the regatta.

Hopefully Barcelona will stop being Barcelona.

More images from today at the bottom of this story

Race Summaries:

Race 1:

NZL started as the most leeward boat with GBR just to windward. GBR tacked for the starboard boundary, and took the lead before reaching it.
Mark 1: GBR (04m 16sec); ITA(+12sec); NZL (+33sec), USA (+.37), SUI (+49), FRA –
Italy came of their foils just after rounding Mark 1, and dropped to back of fleet.
Mark 2: GBR (08m 16sec); NZL (+58sec); USA (+99sec), SUI (103sec)
Mark 3: GBR (13m 16sec); NZL (+76sec); SUI (+134sec)
Finish: GBR (17m 06sec); NZL (+79sec);SUI (+97sec); ITA (+218sec); USA (+245sec); FRA(307sec)

Race 2:
Mark 1: GBR (03m 46sec); SUI(+24sec); FRA(+38sec); ITA (+72sec); USA (+74sec)

Mark 2: SUI (07m 00sec); FRA (+23sec); GBR (+26sec); ITA (+51sec) NZL and USA off foils

Mark 3: ITA (12m 57sec); GBR (+13sec); SUI (73sec)

Finish: ITA (15m 33sec); SUI (113sec); GBR (156sec). Rest did not finish inside 5mins. NZL recovered after being over 3000metres behind. Some came down last run with 15kt breeze which died completely before the finish.

Race 3:
Mark 1: GBR (03m 52sec); NZL (+07sec); ITA (+11sec)

Mark 2: ITA (06m 55sec); FRA (+07sec); NZL (+11sec); GBR (+13sec); USA (+18sec); SUI (+26sec)
Mark 3: ITA (11m 20sec); GBR(+13sec); NZL (+33sec); FRA(+39sec); USA (+40sec); SUI (+52sec)
Finish: ITA (14m 03sec); GBR(+28sec); NZL (+46sec); FRA(+60sec); USA (+73sec); SUI (+119sec)

Race 4:
Mark 1: GBR (04m 25sec); ITA (+09sec); USA (+12sec); NZL (+17sec); FRA(+21sc); SUI
Mark 2: ITA (07m 40sec); GBR (+04sec); USA (+15sec); NZL (+28sec)

Mark 3: ITA (12m 33sec); GBR (+03sec); FRA (+47sec); NZL (+50sec); SUI (+111sec)

Finish: ITA (15m 41sec); GBR (+12sec); FRA (+62sec); NZL (+67sec); SUI (+83sec) USA Gate 3

Points

1. ITA 4,1,1,1 33pts

2. GBR 1,3,2,2 29pts

3. NZL 2,4,3,4 18pts
4. SUI 3,2,6,5 15pts
5. FROM 6,5,4,3 11pts

6. USA 5,6,5,6 6pts

Weather:

Course Location:

Crew Lists:

Additional Images: