Key events
Away we go!
New Zealand set off at a faster rate of knots, GB drop those 75m behind to clear the penalty, and that’s a good recovery as they give chase. The gap is down to 54m. “Stand by,” says Dylan Fletcher as they seek a chance to pass. The New Zealand team tack left, and that slows the British. They drop to 100m down, then 130m down. This is only the first leg after which New Zealand lead.
Britain start with a 75m penalty
So, both teams are primed and ready, launched into the bay, ready to start tacking. They nearly crash into each other ahead of the start. The Brits gets a 75m penalty from the start. Whoops.
The race is due in just a couple of minutes, good to go. What can Britannia do?
And more from Stephen: “A friend skippering boat for tourists says conditions very different from yesterday, sea much more choppy.”
The talk from the British team is of a battery problem ahead of racing. The sea is said to be flatter, and they are expecting to get the first race underway. The second could be a victim of a drop in conditions. A “light-air battle”.
Stephen Burgen is our man on the ground in Barcelona: “While we’re waiting: Not everyone is happy about the America´s Cup being staged here. Two hours before racing began, thousands of people – 10,000 according to the organisers – joined a protest organised by the “No to the America’s Cup” campaign. The campaign is also bringing a case to the anti-fraud office claiming that the organisers have made false and grossly inflated claims about the economic benefits to the city of hosting the event.”
So how does it work?
Teams must first compete in a series of regattas, culminating in the Louis Vuitton Cup, which determines the main event’s challenger. This year’s matchup will see Team New Zealand as the defender take on Ineos Britannia after the Britons won the right to challenge New Zealand by beating Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli comfortably in the decisive race. The current format features a best of 13 series; the first to win seven races takes home the Cup. This year’s edition begins with the first two races on 12 October. After that, the third and fourth races are set for 13 October. Subsequent races will occur on 16 October for the fifth and sixth races and on 18 October for the seventh. If necessary, the eighth race will be held on 18 October, the ninth and 10th on 19 October, the 11th and 12th on 20 October. The final race, if required, will take place on 21 October.
Tale of the tape here.
Important piece by Nick Ames on the Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe sporting empire.
Preamble
Saturday didn’t go well for Sir Ben Ainslie and his crew. While they were winning the Louis Vuitton Cup, the New Zealand team were clearly working on their craft. So, 2-0 to the Kiwis and Team Ineos Britannia really need to salvage something from Sunday to keep their heads above water.
We start to race at 1pm, UK time. Join me.