For two of the most famous yacht clubs in the world, both with winning histories in the America’s Cup, today could see the end of their representative team’s challenges by two clubs that have never won the Cup.
The Société Nautique de Genève, that won the Cup in 2003 and defended in 2007, and the New York Yacht Club that famously still holds the record for the longest winning sporting streak in sports history, having defended the trophy for 132 years, know that any defeat today and their challenges will be extinguished by the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, respectively.
The teams, Alinghi Red Bull Racing and NYYC American Magic both stand on the brink of elimination at 4-0 down in this first-to-five series and, with no room for error, it’s a considerable challenge to stage a come back. That’s not to say that it hasn’t been done before or can’t be done this time – the America’s Cup has a tradition of noble fightbacks from the cliff-edge of elimination, but with INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli both performing at a very high level, it’s a tough ask.
Mother Nature often has her say in sailing competitions and today the conditions look tricky. After a morning of bright sunshine with the wind draining off from the north, as the afternoon progresses the forecasters are suggesting a six to nine-knot southerly ‘Migjorn.’ Recent days have seen more, much more, than expected as the velocity of southerly airflow is dictated by a number of variables, including offshore wind patterns and the effects of the mistral to the north.
The Port Vell is a busy place at the moment with an armada of yachts of all sizes in harbour, matched by the crowds at the free-to-enter Fanzones at Bogatell and Plaça del Mar whilst the Official Race Village along the Moll de la Fusta has been thronged with engaged fans thoroughly enjoying the spectacle of the Louis Vuitton Cup on a daily basis.
