• #etnz
29 August 2024

Emirates Team New Zealand claims the Barcelona Preliminary Regatta

The Louis Vuitton Cup’s first match kicks off on 29th August and lasts until 8th September, during which the four semi-finalists will be decided

Elena Giolai/SLAM

background

Anticipation and curiosity abounded in the final moments leading up to the AC75s’ first true regatta, in which the boats soared through the air like bullets flying against one another, albeit this time without America's Cup points up for grabs. The Preliminary regatta in Barcelona offered the perfect opportunity for teams to pick up on any differences compared to individual training sessions and for spectators and fans to learn what this America's Cup edition has in store, an edition focused on speed and in which reaction times will be shorter than ever. Emirates Team New Zealand took first place, demonstrating both speed and precision in match racing before and after the start. At 25-35 knots the difficulty takes on a whole new level, especially when opponents battle it out at such close distances, reminding us of those good old close-contact match races, something rarely seen in recent America's Cup editions due to the excessively wide gaps between the boats.

Emirates Team New Zealand suffered a single defeat versus 4 wins, having lost once against American Magic, who – along with Luna Rossa – seem to have given the best performance among Challengers and were closest to the New Zealanders. Their one defeat was commented by helmsman Nathan Outteridge:

«

American Magic sailed really well, they had a good start and we were pretty keen to get out to the right side of the course but unfortunately they got a nice left shift off the line so it's pretty hard to catch up to them after that. They seemed to be nicely in phase with the wind and we missed a couple of shifts, so that's racing

»
SLAM

Ricardo Pinto /America's Cup

Scuttlebutt Sailing summed up the race by asking what these early matches had taught us:

background

Scuttlebutt Sailing

"The changes to the AC75 have made them more maneuverable which allowed the teams to whip them around in the pre-start and facilitate tacking duels upwind. But with this nimbleness came penalties. A frequent topic will be sea-state, as in the steep chop, wiping out was real in moderate winds and teams were struggling to stay foiling in the minimum wind of 6.5 knots.”

There is no certainty that all teams expressed their true potential: this was pretty much a formal training session, the boats provided a lot of important data, the crews understood what to work on, especially in a competition that has never been so evenly matched since foils were first introduced to the America's Cup. And yet the match racing was still a thrilling sight for those keen on experiencing the challenge at supersonic speeds, speeds at which there’s barely time to think. Making quick calls has become more difficult even for the umpires, who are also undergoing official training/testing and made a few mistakes in their decisions.

But it will be on 29th August, with the official start of the Louis Vuitton Cup, that the gloves will come off in Barcelona: one of the teams will be left out and the real race will take off to reach and win the final, a compulsory step to try to snatch the Auld Mug from its holders. Emirates Team New Zealand will also race in the first round robin event of the Louis Vuitton Cup however the races against the New Zealanders will not count in terms of points. It will just be another opportunity for the Defender and their opponents to put each other to the test.

All teams will have to race twice against one another, and this is the first time the Defender will be racing together with the Challengers, until the top 4 teams reach the semi-finals. From then on, Emirates Team New Zealand will sit and wait for the final match (12th – 21st October).  

Over the course of the coming weeks and the various phases that will make up the 37th America's Cup, as autumn approaches the weather and wind conditions will surely shift, as will the prep and performance of each Team's boat. One thing is certain, however: every race will be a thrill to watch, every moment, and Slam will be doing its part on board with Emirates Team New Zealand!

You may also like

  • A person with long hair stands facing forward, wearing a black ETNZ Deck T-Shirt by SLAM, crafted from natural cotton. The shirt features logos like "Emirates Fly Better," "Omega," and "Toyota," along with a teal design on the shoulder. The individual has a neutral expression.

    ETNZ DECK T SHIRT

    ETNZ DECK T SHIRT

    €45,00 EUR
    €45,00 EUR €45,00 EUR

    The ETNZ Deck T-shirt is a light and comfortable men's T-shirt for everyday use, characterised by a very pleasant 'feel'. Wearing natural cotton, you will feel 'cuddled' by its softness.

  • A person with long hair is wearing the stylish and comfortable ETNZ Deck Woman T-Shirt by SLAM in a shade of black. The shirt, possibly crafted from natural cotton, is adorned with brand logos like "Emirates Fly Better," "Omega," and "Toyota" against a neutral backdrop, seamlessly combining style and comfort in women's fashion.

    ETNZ DECK WOMAN T SHIRT

    ETNZ DECK WOMAN T SHIRT

    €45,00 EUR
    €45,00 EUR €45,00 EUR

    The ETNZ Deck WS T-shirt is a light and comfortable women's T-shirt for everyday use, characterised by a very pleasant 'feel'. Wearing natural cotton, you will feel 'cuddled' by its softness.

  • A child with long hair is wearing the ETNZ Junior Deck Cap by SLAM, in ETNZ black. The cap, adorned with white logos including "Toyota" and "Emirates," features teal embroidery on the brim and perfectly complements their slight smile as they glance over their shoulder. The background is plain and light-colored.

    ETNZ JUNIOR DECK CAP

    ETNZ JUNIOR DECK CAP

    €25,00 EUR
    €25,00 EUR €25,00 EUR

    The Kid Deck Cap is a cap made of durable, breathable cotton twill, complete with a back adjustment strap and the indispensable lanyard with a clip to attach it to your shirt and never lose it.

  • A person dressed in a light gray outfit is seen from behind, with shoulder-length hair and wearing the ETNZ TEAM BACKPACK by SLAM in ETNZ BLACK. This stylish backpack showcases logos from Emirates, Team New Zealand, Toyota, Omega, along with the "Fly Better" slogan. It also offers practical features such as a water-repellent finish and a laptop sleeve.

    ETNZ TEAM BACKPACK

    ETNZ TEAM BACKPACK

    €80,00 EUR
    €80,00 EUR €80,00 EUR

    Unisex water-repellent, lightweight backpack with laptop sleeve, ideal for spending a weekend on a boat.

Slam Stories

Back to blog