The decision to utilise the first reserve day of the Louis Vuitton Cup proved to be a far-sighted one by race director Iain Murray, as perfect conditions greeted INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on Monday (30 September) for the fourth day of their epic, locked-in battle to win the cup. The ‘Garbi’ south-westerly wind was in and, crucially, just below the wind limit of 21 knots. With relatively flat water, the two starts both got under way on time, with the racing taking place beneath a cloudless sky and with the stunning Barcelona beachfront as a shimmering backdrop.
With the series tied at 2-2 at the start of the day, the British Challenger of Record for the America’s Cup , INEOS Britannia, took the tally to 3-2 after an opening race where accuracy of execution was rewarded. Sir Ben Ainslie pulled off a classic match-race move deep in the pre-start box, powering over the bow of Luna Rossa in the final 30 seconds to the start. The subsequent water and wing wash of the fast-driving British helped to force the Italian boat off its foils as it turned up behind Britannia.
The Luna Rossa sailors quickly recovered, but the Britannia crew were able to execute an unchallenged time-on-distance run back to the line and start ahead. Any ideas that the race might be done and dusted at this point were quickly dispelled. Over the subsequent eight legs, the boats seemed to be tethered by elastic as they nipped, tucked and covered, never more than a few seconds apart.
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