Britain is set to compete in the America’s Cup for the first time in 60 years after securing the sole victory required on Friday to edge out their Italian rivals and earn the right to challenge the defending champions, New Zealand, next week.

Ineos Britannia clinched the first of two scheduled races in Barcelona on Friday, becoming the first boat to achieve seven victories. They defeated Luna Rossa 7-4 in the best-of-13 series for the Louis Vuitton Cup. Led by four-time Olympic gold medal-winning sailor Ben Ainslie, the British campaign will now aim to wrest the “Auld Mug” from the New Zealanders in the America’s Cup from 12 to 17 October. A victory would mark the first time British sailing has won the competition since its inception in 1851.

In the decisive race, Britannia took an early lead over Luna Rossa, establishing a significant advantage in the first two legs. The British boat found clear air while the Italians encountered turbulence, forcing them into additional maneuvers. Ainslie’s team maintained control, with their supporters cheering them on as they led at the halfway point. The Italians attempted to close the gap in the fifth leg, reducing the distance to less than 20 meters, but the wind conditions favored Britannia, preventing Luna Rossa from passing.

With three legs remaining, Luna Rossa increased the pressure, waiting for an opportunity to overtake, but Britannia played it safe and widened the gap once more. Leading into the final leg, Ainslie steered into stronger winds to maintain their lead, which the Italians could not close. Britannia crossed the finish line with a clear margin, with Ainslie encouraging his crew: “We’ve got one more to go, boys.”

Ainslie’s co-helm, Dylan Fletcher, who won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, will face the sailors he and Stuart Bithell pushed into silver, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, who lead the New Zealand America’s Cup challenge.

The last time Britain participated in the America’s Cup was in 1964 with a boat skippered by Peter Scott, the son of Antarctic explorer Robert Scott. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United and owner of the elite Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, with an interest in Formula One’s Mercedes team, could celebrate one of his greatest successes outside of the petrochemical business that made his billionaire fortune.

More details to follow …