New Zealand is set to face a tough challenge from Britain's seasoned skipper Ben Ainslie in the America's Cup, according to regatta director Iain Murray. While Ainslie took a break from the water to support the British entry in the inaugural women's America's Cup, the New Zealand team, led by Pete Burling, was making the most of their allocated time on the race course.
"I'm confident that the Kiwis are fast, but Ben is equally fast, and what gives Ben an edge is his extensive match racing experience, which the Kiwis lack," Murray noted. "You'll see them practice as much as they possibly can," he added, referring to the New Zealand crew.
Ainslie and his team secured the right to challenge for the America's Cup by defeating Italy in a closely fought Louis Vuitton Cup. This marks the first British challenge for the prestigious trophy in 60 years. The America's Cup, first contested off the south coast of England in 1851, has never been won by Britain, a feat Ainslie has been striving to achieve for the past decade.
The 11 races against Italy, combined with the crew's experience and improvements to their foiling AC75 boat, could give Britain an early advantage, similar to when Italy challenged New Zealand in 2021. "If you're betting, you'd likely say that Ben will probably have an initial edge," Murray said about the first-to-seven-wins America's Cup starting on October 12.
Describing Ainslie as "unpredictable," "ruthless," and "hard to handle," Murray emphasized that the 47-year-old sailor is a different person on the water. "This has been a key part of his long-term success, so the Kiwis will need to manage that," said Murray, who has participated in eight America's Cup events, four as a competitor and four in race management.
Murray also highlighted that the high-speed boats have made head-to-head match racing even more thrilling, stating, "It's like a first-degree fist fight."
