French team Orient Express eliminated from America's Cup after round-robin
American Magic's AC75 boat sails during America's Cup Preliminary Regatta ahead of the 37th America's Cup sailing race at the Barcelona's coast, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. The world's oldest international sports trophy, best yachtsmen and cutting-edge design and technology will come together in Barcelona when the 37th edition of the America's Cup starts on Thursday. Credit: AP/Joan Monfort
BARCELONA, Spain — Orient Express Racing became the first team eliminated from the America's Cup after losing to Britain's INEOS Britannia on Monday.
The French boat finished last after the round-robin regattas and will not move on to the four-team playoffs that begin on Saturday.
Orient Express ended with a 1-7 record. Switzerland's Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the other boat in danger of being eliminated on Monday, won its point against Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli to finish at 3-5 and make it to the playoffs.
Luna Rossa was disqualified from the race against Alinghi after not making the start because of an issue with the boat.
The final round-robin day was originally scheduled for Sunday but the races had to be postponed because of bad weather in Barcelona.
That meant Orient Express had more time to deal with structural damage on its boat after a nosedive during a practice run on Sunday. But the team still couldn't pull off the win it needed against INEOS Britannia.
A victory for Orient Express, and a loss by Alinghi against Luna Rossa, would have forced a single-race tiebreaker.
Backdrooped by the Sagrada Familia church, Emirates Team New Zealand's AC75 boat sails during America's Cup Preliminary Regatta ahead of the 37th America's Cup sailing race at the Barcelona's coast, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. The world's oldest international sports trophy, best yachtsmen and cutting-edge design and technology will come together in Barcelona when the 37th edition of the America's Cup starts on Thursday. Credit: AP/Joan Monfort
INEOS Britannia and NYYC American Magic both locked up spots in the playoffs on Saturday, along with already-qualified Luna Rossa.
INEOS Britannia beat Luna Rossa in a sail-off race to determine the first-place team, which gets to select its rival for the first playoff series. INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa had arrived with six wins and two losses each.
American Magic, which sailed without skipper Paul Goodison because of injury, ended the round-robin with a 4-4 record.
“Goodison sustained an injury and is currently undergoing treatment,” the team said. “Paul’s recovery is being monitored daily, and we look forward to his swift return to the port helm."
NYYC American Magic's AC75, left, and Luna Rosa Prada Pirelli Team's AC75 boat sail during America's Cup Preliminary Regatta ahead of the 37th America's Cup sailing race at the Barcelona's coast, Spain, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. The world's oldest international sports trophy, best yachtsmen and cutting-edge design and technology will come together in Barcelona when the 37th edition of the America's Cup starts on Thursday. Credit: AP/Joan Monfort
In the meantime, Olympic medalist and multiple world champion Lucas Calabrese will helm the American boat.
The playoffs will decide which challenger will claim the Louis Vuitton Cup and earn a place in the America’s Cup match, where it will face holder Emirates Team New Zealand in October.
New Zealand is participating in the opening phase but its races don’t count. It ended with eight victories and two losses.
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