Story By: Deborah Leung
Photo’s By: Benjamin Rogers Jr.
Chicago, IL–
Artemis Racing clinched victory in the America’s Cup World Series event in Chicago on Sunday as Emirates Team New Zealand retained their overall lead in the prestigious yachting event.
The Swedish team put together its most consistent performance of the series to clinch the event with 61 points, ahead of Land Rover BAR, second with 58.
Another day of racing in front of packed grandstands on the shores of Lake Michigan the first time America’s Cup racing has been held on freshwater saw Land Rover BAR take the first race of the day.
Artemis Racing then notched their second victory of the weekend in race two, holding off a fierce challenge from Oracle Team USA. The final race of the day was won by SoftBank Team Japan after a slew of penalties to their rivals after the first mark.
“I’m a bit relieved,” said Artemis Racing skipper Nathan Outteridge. “We finally had a very good day of weather and our team rose to the occasion.
“We recorded nothing worse than a fourth all week, and we said at the start of the week that finishing top three in every race would be good enough to win, and we did just that.”
Land Rover BAR skipper Ben Ainslie, the four-time Olympic champion yachtsman from Britain, said he was satisfied with second.
“As a team we are happy with second place,” Ainslie said. “We would have liked to have the win, but Artemis Racing sailed very well today.”
Team New Zealand meanwhile held onto the lead in the overall standings after a fourth place finish.
The Kiwis lead with 295 points, ahead of Land Rover BAR on 285 and Artemis on 262.
“It was sensational racing today and to come away with our overall lead still intact is fantastic,” said skipper Glenn Ashby.
Overall ranking position in the America’s Cup World Series, which features the spectacular AC45 foiled catamarans, will determine the starting points score of the teams in the America’s Cup qualifiers in 2017.
Five challengers are vying for the chance to take on America’s Cup holders Team USA in the America’s Cup final in Bermuda next year.
