Day 1: Learning day in Lagos

Racing got underway today for INEOS TEAM UK on Portugal’s Algarve coast at the GC32 Lagos Cup, round two of the GC32 Racing Tour 2018. The eight-strong fleet completed five races in strong wind but flat-water conditions.

Despite coming in late to the start, the team fought back to claim their first race win in the second of the day, alongside placing a 4th, 5th, 7th and 7th to leave the British team 5th overnight, joint on 24 points with Australia’s. film Racing. The leaderboard is close with the team currently sitting just one point behind fourth placed RealTeam and two points behind third placed Argo.

The day started with a shifty 13-15 knots, allowing for windward leeward courses and reaching starts. By race four the breeze built to a gusty 25 knots and a course change soon followed with upwind starts and reefed sails, by race five - the final of the day - the breeze became tricky, dropping back down to 14 knots.

Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and Skipper,“ We started the day off well with a good start in the first race and race win in the second but as the day went on and the breeze went up we didn’t quite get the gear changes right but as the brand-new team that was expected.

“We are new to this class and days like today is why we are competing on the GC32 Racing Tour, we want to learn and push ourselves as a team.

“There is plenty to work on in the coming days, but we knew that would be the challenge and we are looking forward to taking that on.”

The GC32 Lagos Cup is the second event of the 2018 GC32 Racing Tour with eight teams from seven nations competing over four days of racing. Racing continues tomorrow at 1300 local time with a further five races scheduled.

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Results

  1. NORAUTO (FRA) 9 pts
  2. Zoulou (FRA) 11 pts
  3. Argo (USA) 21pts
  4. Realteam (SUI) 23 pts
  5. INEOS TEAM UK (GBR) 24 pts
  6. film Racing (NZL) 24 pts
  7. Frank Racing (AUS) 28 pts
  8. Código Rojo Racing (POR) 43 pts

INEOS TEAM UK GC32 Race Squad:
Ben Ainslie, Helm
Iain Jensen, Mainsail
Joey Newton, Jib Trim
Giles Scott, Bow / Tactics
Neil Hunter, Float
Nick Hutton, Jib Trim
Support team:
Jono Macbeth, Sailing Team Manager
Rob Wilson, Coach
Matt Haslam, Boat Builder
Chris Noble, Senior Shore Support
Aston Campion, Shore Support
Ben Williams, Head of Human Performance

2018 GC32 Racing Tour:
GC32 Lagos Cup, 27 June – 1 July - Lagos, Portugal
37th Copa Del Rey MAPFRE, 31 July – 4 August - Palma de Mallorca, Spain
GC32 Villasimius Cup, 12 – 16 September - Villasímius, Sardinia, Italy
GC32 TPM Med Cup, 10 –14 October - Toulon, France