Sailing - Women's America's Cup - Puig Women's America's Cup Match Race Final - Britain v Italy - Barcelona, Spain - October 12, 2024 Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli crew celebrate with champagne after winning the Puig Women's America's Cup REUTERS/Albert Gea
BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) -Italy beat Britain on Saturday to clinch the first Women's America's Cup, which sailors hope will help bridge the experience gap at the male-dominated top end of the sport.
There were huge celebrations among the Italian team of four after they crossed the line in their AC40 foiling monohull, with an eight second win over the British who had pursued them to the finish line in a tight 18 minute race.
"Speechless, it's just an immense joy really," Italy's skipper Giulia Conti said when asked how she felt on the America's Cup live broadcast, adding: "the cohesion of the team is just so unique", raising both arms with joy.
The Italian and British flags flew proudly from cranes high above their respective team bases as the inaugural America's Cup final for women unfolded between the top two teams of 12.
"We always knew the Italians were going to be really strong, they sailed the boat really well," Britain's skipper Hannah Mills told Reuters when back ashore, adding that her crew were "gutted" not to have pulled off a win.
"We couldn't quite get past them, but we pushed them all the way," Mills said, adding that the sea state had been "really tricky" and the Italians had just not made many mistakes.
Mills, who led the British campaign, said she would be spending time with her young daughter and having some time to decompress after the long haul to the final.
While women have competed in previous America's Cup events, the contest has been dominated by men, with physical demands and a lack of women with the necessary experience among reasons previously cited for the historic imbalance.
But a new generation of craft almost like Formula One racing cars on water mean four of the eight sailors in the latest edition of the America's Cup perform roles which do not depend on strength, offering new opportunities for women.
That is a door the women selected to race the identical AC40s, which are sailed by two co-helms and two sail trimmers paired on opposite sides of the boat, plan to push through.
"I'm sure this is just the start," Britain's Mills said as she fought back tears after the race finished.
"For the young girls out there watching, this is happening and it's going to be your turn next," she added.
Britain's Ben Ainslie said afterwards that he "couldn't be prouder of the girls". The start "could have gone either way", Ainslie said, adding that the crew had done "a really good job" to keep the race close until the finish.
New Zealand's America's Cup skipper Peter Burling said the women's event had got the "pick of the conditions" for the day and had resulted in "amazing racing", adding: "full credit to the Italians for getting the job done".
Italy had already won the Youth America's Cup in the smaller AC40 boats that are being used for the women's event. The Italian team lost the Louis Vuitton Cup to Britain and with it the right to challenge New Zealand for the America's Cup itself.
(Reporting by Alexander Smith; Editing by Ken Ferris and Toby Davis)
