Ben Ainslie reacts after racing on day one of the Prada Cup final. Photo / Photosport
Ben Ainslie reacts after racing on day one of the Prada Cup final. Photo / Photosport
Three words from Ben Ainslie summed up the prevailing mood in the Ineos Team UK camp, after a difficult first day of the Prada Cup final.
The British were favoured going into this challenger decider, after their strong form in the round robin and the extra development time they gainedas a result of being top qualifier.
Few would have expected Ainslie's team to be 2-0 down after Saturday, even if the first race was compromised by fluky winds before the pre-start, which saw them fall off their foils.
But Ainslie has built a career from coming back from adversity and that defiant streak came through on Saturday night.
"Nothing has really changed for us," said Ainslie. "We still need to win seven races. We came short…. [today] we won't."
Ben Ainslie reacts after racing on day one of the Prada Cup final. Photo / Photosport
Ineos Team UK have been through several ups and downs in Auckland already, especially after their dramatic failure in December's America's Cup World Series, which has built resilience.
"It has helped a lot," said Ainslie. "To go through something like we did in the World Series and to get through that. So losing a couple of races - no one is happy about that, but we know we have the ability and the grit to be able to come back."
The opening race on Saturday was over before it started, as Britannia was marooned off its foils, but the second sortie was much closer. Ainslie conceded their choice of a bigger jib may have backfired, and they couldn't utilise the talents of tactician Giles Scott.
"Not that many wind shifts - very small, very subtle and the pressure was quite light as well," said Ainslie. "There weren't that many passing lanes and perhaps on a different day, with some bigger holes and shifts out there maybe we would have been able to come back at them harder."
Ineos Team UK struggled on day one of the Prada Cup final. Photo / Michael Craig
It could be a starkly different picture today, with wind forecast on the higher end of the scale (15-20 knots) and the likely use of course E (off Maretai beach) for the first time in the Prada Cup.
"A bit more breeze and a different course area - we are looking forward to that," said Ainslie. "They are two very even boats – we saw that in the second race – and it is going to come down to which team sails best.
"Over 10 or 11 knots we have got a boat race and that's what we want. We have a great sailing team and we are up against a great team. We want to take them on; we just have to get in the game a bit more and we are up for the fight."
Heading into the Cup racing?
• Give yourself plenty of time and think about catching a ferry, train or bus to watch the Cup.
• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It's the best way to ride.
• Don't forget to scan QR codes with the NZ COVID Tracer app when on public transport and entering the America's Cup Village.
