Britain qualify for America’s Cup final after 60-year wait

BARCELONA: Britain will compete in the America´s Cup for the first time since 1964 after beating Italy 7-4 in the Louis Vuitton Cup qualifying event on Friday.

Skippered by four-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie, Ineos Britannia won the first of two races in Spain on Friday to seal the best-of-13 series against the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team.

“It is a massive day for our team and I can´t say how proud I am of everyone,” said Ainslie. “We started this team 10 years ago, Britain wasn´t in the America´s Cup, it took a lot of people to come in and support the team financially, of course Jim (Ratcliffe) and his team at Ineos.” The victory means Britain will face double defending champions New Zealand in the 37th America´s Cup final from October 12 to 21 off Barcelona.

Britain have never won the America´s Cup in its current form. They won the inaugural regatta in 1851 when the Royal Yacht Squadron triumphed in a fleet race around the Isle of Wight. Heading into Friday with a 6-4 lead, Ineos Britannia needed to win just one of the two scheduled races.

Britain built on a fast start to open up a 150-metre lead after the first leg of eight. The Italians fought back over the fifth leg, but Britain sped clear to finish as comfortable winners by 300m.