America's Cup: Back in the final after 60 years - "Britannia" defeats "Luna Rossa"

Sir Ben Ainslie's Team Ineos Britannia has won the challenger series for the 37th America's Cup. In the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the team on "Britannia" beat the Italian "Luna Rossa" 7:4. Co-pilots Ben Ainslie, Dylan Fletcher and their crew won the decisive seventh victory point on Friday in the eleventh final encounter with the Azzurri.

"Britannia" with a start-to-finish victory in the cup match

For the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, the defeat also meant the end of the seventh Cup attempt by racing team founder Patrizio Bertelli since the turn of the millennium. In slightly weaker winds than the day before, the final test of strength was comparatively unspectacular: the British team had the bow slightly ahead at the start with slightly better timing. The eight sailors and cyclists in the power group on board "Britannia" turned this into a start-to-finish victory.

Although the "Luna Rossa" helmsmen Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni made a strong comeback in the meantime, they were unable to overtake the British Cup pride and joy, whose performance potential was largely due to Celle-born chief designer Martin Fischer. After the gala in stronger winds and rough waves, "Britannia" also made a strong impression in winds of around 13 or 14 knots.

Britain's America's Cup chasers have had to wait 60 years for the chance to win the America's Cup again. The last time was in 1964, when Tony Boyden's British 12-metre yacht "Souvereign" was beaten 4-0 by the American Cup defenders on the "Constellation".

37th America's Cup match: "Britannia" vs. "Taihoro"

The first America's Cup race took place off the Isle of Wight in the south of England in 1851. At that time, the US yacht "America" from the New York Yacht Club defeated 14 British boats. "America" won the famous ornate silver jug when it was still called the "100 Guinea Cup" - and took it with her across the Atlantic to her American homeland. There, the first Cup winners gave her the name America's Cup and also drew up the foundation certificate that defines the competition to this day. For 173 years, the "Deed of Gift" has defined the basic rules for the oldest international sports competition that is still active today.

By winning the Louis Vuitton Cup, the British racing team financed by Chairman and chemical entrepreneur Sir James Arthur "Jim" Ratcliffe is moving on to the 37th America's Cup match. There, the British team will face the America's Cup defenders from Emirates Team New Zealand from 12 October. With "Taihoro", the Kiwis are aiming for their fifth victory since 1995 and their third triumph in a row. "No team has ever managed a third win in a row. It would give Emirates Team New Zealand, which has long since become a brand, a unique character," said Grant Dalton.

We have gone through highs, but also incredible lows. It feels very good." Ben Ainslie

Sir Ben Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor in sporting history with four Olympic gold medals and one silver, and his team Ineos Britannia will be fighting for even greater things: the first America's Cup victory for the motherland of the "Auld Mug". "Today is a great day for the whole team here on the water, on land, in Brackley and wherever British supporters and fans are. I'm so proud of the whole team," said Ben Ainslie on the evening after the victory in Barcelona.

Jimmy Spithill ends active Cup career

The 47-year-old and his team have given themselves a historic opportunity with their victory in the challenger round of the America's Cup. Ben Ainslie knows what to expect in the duel for the America's Cup: "We have no illusions about how tough it will be against the Kiwis. It's going to be a massive challenge - we're ready for it."

The duel between the Cup giants from the United Kingdom and the land of the long white cloud on their futuristic second-generation AC75 foilers begins on 12 October. Whoever is able to secure seven victory points first will take home the "Bottomless Jug" and determine the format, the boats and the next venue. Which is why the retired and still active Cup teams cannot yet answer some questions about the future.

However, the first cautious voices were heard from the Italian camp in the evening that there could possibly be another campaign under the light of the red moon. The Azzurri want to reveal more in the coming days. But one of them already made a clear statement in the evening. Jimmy Spithill said: "This was the eighth America's Cup in a row for me. As an athlete, it was definitely my last." However, Spithill will not disappear from the sailing stage as a result. He will soon be sailing with an Italian team in the SailGP.

"Ah, Your Majesty, there is no second"

The man who started his unique career in 1999 as the youngest skipper in Cup history at the age of 20 did not rule out a future in the America's Cup in a different role. Now aged 45, he sees the next generation facing "great opportunities" and "Italian sailing in the best of hands". Spithill wants to watch the Cup final between Kiwis and Brits "as a fan".

The 37th America's Cup will begin in just over a week's time. As always, the historic motto that was coined in British waters at the premiere in 1851 applies this time too. Back then, Queen Victoria - seeking compensation after the American victory - asked who had come second. A signalling master gave her the famous answer, which has not lost its validity to this day: "Ah, Your Majesty, there is no runner-up."

Click here for the final results of the 37th America's Cup challenger series.

Reloaded: The live broadcast of the final day of the Louis Vuitton Cup: