In Barcelona, under a milky sky and in conditions that were finally favorable to it (a stable northeast wind and a little stronger than the previous days, at more than 10 knots), Ineos Britannia hoped to finally make Team New doubt Zealand. The British Challenger got off to an excellent start, led almost the entire first leg, passed the first gate tied and the second with a minimal delay (3 seconds). Then the Defender accelerated, without us knowing very well what he was doing better than his opponent, and inexorably broke away, crossing the finish line with a lead of 23 seconds, approximately the same margin than since the start of this America’s Cup final.
Team New Zealand now leads 4-0 and is just three wins away, perhaps three days away (there will be no racing on Tuesday), from winning the silver ewer for the third time in a row . This team is nicknamed the All Blacks of sailing. It’s not just a convenience; she is rigorous, perfectly united and makes no mistakes. In a word: relentless. For the show, the “Kiwis” rely on the carved wooden canoe which escorts them out of the port at midday. On board, around fifteen men in loincloths row in rhythm and perform a haka (Monday, Will Die), hitting the edge of the boat with their traditional paddle to dictate the rhythm.
The British, for their part, are banging their foreheads wondering how to reverse the trend. “We are not far away,” assures adjuster Leigh McMillan. There’s no need to take a giant step, just get a little better. Until now, we have always been able to find that small gain that will allow us to move forward.” In an interview area swept by a steady breeze (a wind of hope?), the other trimmer, the Welshman Bleddyn Mon, also hopes for an enchanting tomorrow. “We’re going to use this day off to improve.” A long-term event, the America’s Cup encourages us to always believe in better days. Except there aren’t many left…
Related News :