Emirates Team New Zealand concluded a historic chapter, winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup after an epic final showdown in Barcelona, Spain. Pitted against the Challenger of Record, INEOS Britannia, in a single race that ebbed and flowed from the outset, the Kiwis ultimately came out with the victory by 37 seconds. It was a dominant win, as they captured the overall series 7 to 2.
The final race took place on October 19, 2024, and was a dog fight from the beginning. After a rare miscalculation, the pressure from the Kiwis opened the door for the British to stage a comeback, it wasn’t to be. The Kiwis, having seen their lead evaporate once, were in no mood to give it up again. On the final leg, they played it conservatively up the right side, tacking on Britannia, bouncing them to the left and rounding the final windward gate at 47 knots with a 17-second lead. It was brilliance combined with boat speed, and the results were devastating on the water, with Emirates Team New Zealand coming out victorious.
Stepping ashore, Peter Burling, skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand, put it in perspective as he struggled to take in just what he and the team had achieved, “It’s a pretty surreal feeling, it’s still definitely sinking in. In the America’s Cup you’re all ready for a long battle but to be able to get it done today in just beautiful sailing conditions with a little bit of shift in it and just so many people cheering us on, was amazing.”
For Emirates Team New Zealand, the race completed one of the most successful America’s Cup campaigns in history. They’ve now won the America’s Cup three times in a row and are presented with an unprecedented opportunity — the continued growth of the America’s Cup from the strongest foundation of success in recent history.
Three days after winning the Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton provided insight into the early stages of a vision of continued expansion, given early media speculation about future venue opportunities.
“The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup has confirmed the America’s Cup as one of the unique properties in international sport, so it is our objective to build on the success of AC37 and continue the growth we have been seeing since we first won the America’s Cup in 2017. We are looking to increase audience and engagement across different regions, territories and demographics.” said Dalton.
After such a success for Emirates Team New Zealand in Barcelona in 2024, the future looks bright for the America’s Cup and its competitors.
