Shortly after INEOS Britannia’s historic win Louis Vuitton Cup win, helmsman Dylan Fletcher spoke to Yachting World's Helen Fretter about how they’re making ready to face Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup
INEOS Britannia co-helm Dylan Fletcher says that the Louis Vuitton Cup remaining collection pushed the British squad and boat more durable than they may ever have imagined – however that they still have a few tricks up their sleeve ahead of racing Defenders Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup Match, which begins on October 12.
The Louis Vuitton Cup remaining collection noticed the British and Italian groups racing in every thing from zephyr gentle situations that in the end noticed racing cancelled, to robust Garbi winds which pushed the boats to the limits of their design margins, in addition to a decisive day of mid-range wind strengths with intimidating sea states.
As preparation for the huge check – racing Defenders Emirates Team New Zealand – has the punch-for-punch collection been useful for the British squad?
“Obviously, you always want an easy run in. We’d have rather won seven races in a row. But I guess this has probably been a blessing in disguise in terms of being pushed so hard by the Italians,” says Fletcher.
“Just six weeks in the past, we raced [Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli] in the follow racing earlier than the prelims, and they completely destroyed us in 15 to 18 knots. So to have turned the efficiency round on Britannia and to be there racing so shut with them is nice. And on the begins, they pushed us extremely exhausting.
Fully loaded: INEOS Britannia hit over 55 knots on Day 5 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final. Photo: Ian Roman / America’s Cup
“So I believe it’s put us in good stead for the Kiwis. We’ve been watching them coaching on their very own, and they’re pushing exhausting, nevertheless it definitely appears like we’ve been pushed more durable than we’ve ever sailed the boat earlier than.
“And we’ve seen that with things like we did 55 and a half knots the other day – which is something that we didn’t know that was actually possible from Britannia!”
The British squad has at all times been bullish about the indisputable fact that whereas their muscular AC75 design was not the quickest out of the blocks, they have been assured they might maximise extra and extra of its potential as the competitors went on. So far, that plan appears to be working.
“We’ve had a good programme from the growth perspective, and we still have a few issues left in our pocket.
“It’s at all times that balancing act with the America’s Cup, how a lot do you convey for the remaining, and how a lot do you wait and strive and develop as late as doable for the Cup match?
“So I guess at this point, it feels like we picked to keep the right balance because we got that win against Luna Rossa and we know we’ve got some things to provide us some more performance ahead of the Cup next weekend.”
Confirmation that Fletcher (left) would co-Skipper Britannia alongside Ainslie (proper) got here pretty late in the day. Photo: Ian Roman / America’s Cup
The weight of expectation
Fletcher, who was introduced as co-helm of INEOS Britannia on the eve of the Preliminary Regatta, says that the crew approached in the present day’s historic race identical to another.
“Honestly, it felt the identical as the remainder of the races with Luna Rossa. They’ve been extremely shut, as I’m positive you’ve seen, and the margins are tremendous tremendous. You can see that each boats have a little bit of a sample, and we’re each good at what we’re good at. So for us, it was good to ship a good begin and management the race from there.
“They positively received shut. There was a good shift for them at the backside mark once we selected the proper flip, which was the biased mark. But they received a good shift in actually tough situations in the present day – it was a bit colder and a lot extra unstable in contrast to what you’d count on from that wind route. I suppose we received into place properly from there to management it.
“But they’re an incredibly good team. We lost to them last time around in the Louis Vuitton final. So it feels a bit deserved to get one over them this time and finally be in that America’s Cup match.”
At what level did he chill out? “Once we crossed the end line, not till then.
“I suppose it’s straightforward to see how the boats form of look on rails. But in actuality, they’re extremely exhausting to sail and it solely takes one among the eight folks to make a mistake and we will be off the foils. And that may very well be the finish of the race for us.
“So we’d received our foot down and pushing exhausting. But yeah, a tremendous feeling as soon as we lastly crossed that end line.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli leads INEOS Britannia again to the startline durning Louis Vuitton Cup racing. Photo: Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
“We were just really happy we got to deliver as we have done in the last few races. And happy for the team to be in the Cup final after a 60-year drought for Great Britain.”
The celebrations at the INEOS Britannia base in Barcelona have been in full swing this afternoon, however the Challenger of Record has simply seven days to put together for the greatest combat of their lives.
“I think we’ll probably have a day off, but in reality, probably not more than that.
“It’s certainly at this stage of the game, we’ve just got to keep our foot down, keep pushing hard, and make sure that we’re firing next weekend. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
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