America's Cup

With three Olympic participations (ILCA 6, Nacra 17) and as the helmswoman of Alinghi's America's Cup Women's team, Nathalie Brugger has set new standards in Switzerlands Women's sailing for almost 20 years. Now as a coach and foiling trainer, she is the first top athlete in Switzerland to make sailing her profession. ----- In a longer interview, she talks about her high-speed foiling experiences in Barcelona, but also about her cancer illness, which is not yet over.

In moderate winds, the decision was made in the first race yesterday: Team New Zealand with Peter Burling NZL and Nathan Outteridge AUS caught the first wind shift after the start and then held on to the lead, albeit very narrowly. Big celebration in Barcelona - the report.

The 9th race of the 38th America's Cup has just finished in Barcelona with another victory for 'Team New Zealand' - Peter Burling NZL, Nathan Outteridge AUS and their team successfully defended the Cup with a 7-2 win - see the replay above, more news will be available soon on the event website.

With two more races sailed in moderate winds, the America's Cup entered the decisive phase yesterday. ----- With a score of 6-2, the New Zealanders with Peter Burling NZL and Nathan Outteridge AUS are now just one win away. For Team Britannia with Ben Ainslie/Dylan Fletcher GBR the motto today is: No losing! However, it remains questionable whether they will be able to sail: according to the forecast, the wind is not expected to exceed 4 knots all day. ----- The report.

The Americas Cup continues in Barcelona with two races today at 14h. With the score at 4-2 in favor of New Zealand, this is likely to be a decisive day: Can 'Team Britannia' equalize, or will 'Team New Zealand' extend her lead to 6-2? ----- The wind forecast is again very moderate at 8–12 knots. We will be broadcasting live from 14h CET. The event website.

Duels 5 and 6 were held yesterday in initially very light and later moderate winds. ----- 'Team New Zealand' fell off the foils before the first start and needed a lot of time to get back flying, an easy win for Team GBR. The second duel remained fiercely contested, with the English taking the lead after winning the start and taking their second win by 5 seconds. The score is now 4-2 in favor of New Zealand, and the action continues tomorrow Friday. ----- The report.

Today at 14h, the America's Cup enters the decisive phase: Will the English be able to stay in the race with their first victories or will Team New Zealand pull away with a 6-0 win? The wind forecast is moderate at 4-13 knots, but it will turn from NNE to south during the afternoon. It should freshen up sufficiently only in the evening. ----- The event website. We will again be broadcasting live from 14h.

In addition to the America's Cup regattas, something is happening in Barcelona almost daily. ----- Last week, 3 of the 9 surviving historic J-Class yachts from the 1930s sailed a series of 7 races - the report. ----- The weekend before, the ‘Pati de Vela’ were in action: more than 200 historic catamarans, steered without a rudder blade only by shifting weight, took to the starting line. ----- The report and the video.

Yesterday, in moderate winds of around 10 knots, 'Team Britannia' was able to keep pace on the first upwind after a good start, with both teams rounding the first gate at the same time. 'Team New Zealand' then delivered another flawless race, took the lead, and steadily pulled away. Today is now a rest day, and at 4-0, there are 2 more duels on the program on Wednesday with probably fresher winds, and whoever achieves 7 wins first has won. ----- The report.

Light winds of around 10 knots made the third America's Cup duel possible yesterday, after which the wind died down and the fourth race had to be postponed until today. ----- With an aggressive pre-start, the New Zealanders inflicted a penalty on the English - they had to drop back 75 meters after the start. The English were unable to recover from this deficit, Team New Zealand continuously extended their advance and now leads 3-0. Race 4 is on the program today from 14h, we will again be broadcasting live. ----- The report.

The America's Cup races began yesterday in Barcelona in moderate winds of around 12 knots. Both races were quite unspectacular, with the New Zealanders leading from the start and controlling the race. ----- The report. Races 3 & 4 are on the program today, we will be broadcasting live again from 2 pm.

Between the two races of the men's America's Cup, the women sailed their own final for the first time in the history of the Cup. 'Luna Rossa' with Giulia Conti were ahead from the start and controlled the 'British Team' with Hannah Mills GBR until the finish. ----- The report.

The 37th America's Cup gets underway today in Barcelona - the wind forecasts promise good conditions with winds of 15 knots at first, easing to 10 knots later. ----- Cup defender 'Team New Zealand' with Peter Burling NZL will face 'Team Britannia' with Ben Ainslie GBR, the winners of the challenger series. The program has two races, and we will again be broadcasting live from 2 pm. ----- The report.

Yesterday's qualification for today's final of the Women's America's Cup ended with a final race, again held in light winds. 'Team GBR' with Hannah Mills GBR and 'Luna Rossa' with Giulia Conti ITA will face each other in today's final. With a 5th place finish, 'Alinghi' narrowly missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals: the New Zealanders, who were level on points, moved up to 3rd place. ----- In the semi-finals, after 4 races, the top two qualified for the final, scheduled for this afternoon after the first race of the men's America's Cup. We will again be broadcasting live. The results and the report.

As was to be expected based on the forecasts, yesterday in Barcelona remained very calm, it was just enough for one shortened race. ----- The New Zealanders (Jo Aleh NZL), who led by a large margin for a long time, fell off the foils at the last mark and had to let the competitors pass. Alinghi with Nathalie Brugger SUI/Alexandra Stalder ITA managed to stay on the foils the longest and snatched victory shortly before the finish. The Swiss have moved up to third place and would therefore be in the semi-finals. The three remaining qualification races are scheduled for today at 10 am, the wind forecast is again very light. The results and the daily report.

The Women's Americas Cup continues today at 11am, and Group A with the countries involved in the Louis Vuitton Cup completes the qualification for the semi-finals today with 4 races. 'Alinghi' with Nathalie Brugger/Anja Von Allmen at the helm (unfortunately no information who is on board as trimmer) in 4th place has to make up a 3-point gap to 'Team New Zealand' with two-time Olympic medalist Jo Aleh NZL. ----- The results and the event website. We will again be broadcasting live from 11 am.

Offshore, gusty winds made for challenging conditions yesterday for the conclusion of the Group B qualifications. ----- With 4 race wins in 4 races, 'Team Sweden' with Vilma Bobeck SWE (49FX Olympic Silver 2024) dominated at will. 'Jajo Team Dutchsail' with Odile Van Aanholt NED (Olympic gold 49erFX 2024) and the local 'Sail Team BCN' with Silvia Mas ESP in 2nd and 3rd place will also be in the semi-finals from Friday. The results and the daily report.
----- The decision in Group A with Alinghi has been postponed to tomorrow Thursday.

As was to be feared based on the weather forecast, there was no wind for further races yesterday. Today, both groups will finish their qualifications for the semi-finals, with the top 3 advancing to the next round. In both groups 4 races are on the programme today, and with 13-15kn the wind forecast is already excellent in the morning. ----- In Group A, Luna Rossa (Giulia Conti ITA) and Team Britannia (Athena Pathways) with Hannah Mills GBR seem to be well on their way to the semi-finals. The third qualifying place, on the other hand, is hotly contested: Team New Zealand with two-time Olympic medallist Jo Aleh NZL is just 3 points ahead of Alinghi (Nathalie Brugger/Anja Von Allmen)...the Swiss are challenged! ----- In Group B, 1st place (Jajo Dutch Sail with Olympic champion Odile Van Aanholt NED) to 4th place (Team Sweden with Olympic bronze medallist Lovisa Karlsson) are only 6 points apart. ----- The rankings and the daily report. We will again be broadcasting live from 11am.

The first America's Cup for women began yesterday with 4 races in Group A. ----- With very light winds at first - not always enough for foiling - later freshening up to around 18 knots, it was Luna Rossa (Giulia Conti) and Team GBR with Hannah Mills who knew how to impress. The Italians lead the classification with a 4-point advance over the British team. In third place is Team New Zealand (Jo Aleh), followed 3 points behind by Alinghi with Nathalie Brugger SUI, who started well with 2nd and 3rd places, but were then temporarily knocked back by a last place. ----- The ranking list and the report. Today at 14h the group B start their races, we transmit live again.

Although there was a little more wind than predicted yesterday, the decisive final race was still not very spectacular: Team Britannia with Ben Ainslie won the start and then stayed in front. The TV-friendly (?) 20-minute mini-courses leave little room for strategy and tactics. As a result, the Brits will face Team New Zealand in the America's Cup in a week's time. ----- The report.

From today, it's the women's turn in Barcelona! As in the Youth America's Cup, the AC40s will be sailed in two groups with fleet races. First up today is Group A: Alinghi with Nathalie Brugger SUI will sail against the other teams involved in the Louis Vuitton Cup: New Zealand (Jo Aleh), Italy (Giulia Conti), Great Britain (Hannah Mills), Team France (Manon Audinet) and the USA (Francesca Clapcich) - an illustrious fleet. In addition to Nathalie Brugger, the Alinghi team includes Anja Von Allmen SUI, Maja Siegenthaler, Laurane Mettraux, Marie Mazuay and Alexandra Stalder ITA. The preview. We will broadcast the Women's America's Cup live every day, starting at 14h.

Will the decision be made today? At 6-4, Team Britania with Ben Ainslie only needs one more win today against Luna Rossa (Francesco Bruni ITA) to qualify for the America's Cup. Today there should only be light winds between 6 and 10 kn. We will be broadcasting live again from 14h. ----- The event website.

After two wins yesterday for Team Britannia of Ben Ainslie GBR, the score is now 6-4 - the English team still needs one more win tomorrow to qualify for the America's Cup against Team New Zealand. Yesterday, two close duels had tight decisions in good wind and waves. ----- The results and the report. ----- We will be broadcasting live tomorrow from 14h.

Good wind conditions yesterday in Barcelona, the duels 7 & 8 were sailed yesterday. Again, Luna Rossa had to abandon the first race of the day with material damage. In the second race, however, the Italians managed to take revenge after Team Brittania had to accept a penalty for leaving the starting area before the start. The short courses leave little room for position changes, 95% of all leaders at the first buoy have also won the race so far. Today 16kn are expected for the races 9 & 10. In the Overall it's 4-4, whoever wins 7 times first will be in the America's Cup final. We will again be broadcasting live. The results and the reports.

Good conditions again yesterday for races 5 & 6 in Barcelona. ----- After a botched start by Luna Rossa in the first duel, Team Britannia had an easy game and won. In the second race, it was the Italians who were ahead from the start and controlled the race - the report. ----- It's 3-3 - today racing continues at 14h, with 14-17kn winds we should be in for some spectacular high-speed racing. We will be broadcasting live again.

Fresh winds at the upper limit (21 knots) affected yesterday's day's program. ----- Despite some postponements, the two scheduled duels could be held. Or only one: 'Luna Rossa' had to retrieve the mainsail for repairs before the first race and missed the start. In the second race, however, the Italians were ahead right from the start, winning by just 4 seconds in a thrilling race. The score is now 2-2, and the action continues today from 2 pm - we'll be broadcasting live again. ----- The wind forecast promises good conditions again today, with 8 –15 knots. ----- The results and the report.

Flat conditions prevented further races yesterday. Race 3 was started, but Team Britannia, which was leading on the final downwind leg, clearly missed the time limit. Racing continues today at 2pm, with up to 14 knots predicted today. We will be broadcasting live again. The report.

The final races of the Louis Vuitton Cup continue today at 2pm in Barcelona. Races 3 & 4 are on the program, the forecast is for light winds. After the starting day, the score is 1-1, and whoever has 7 wins first has won. We will again broadcast live—the event website.

The final of the Louis Vuitton Cup began yesterday with two races in strong winds. ----- Luna Rossa's victory in the first duel, a break had to be taken as the stormy conditions exceeded the wind limit. The second duel took place in the late afternoon. This time, Team Britannia won the start and pulled away in front. Racing continues on Saturday. ----- The report.

After 'American Magic' was penalized before the start of the final race, the duel was quickly decided. ----- Luna Rossa' with three-time Optimist World Champion Marco Gradoni ITA won the Youth America's Cup, which was held for the first time. ----- The report.