Day 1
I have always been drawn to the highs and lows of sport.
I had the fortune of being right in the action due to my day-to-day role within the Performance Team. During the races I was busy with that job, I’d grab the camera and snap a few shots as and when I could.
A tumultuous journey of emotion as after 3 years of hard work the team started the competition horribly, losing every race during the Christmas Regatta in December 2020.
The next stage was the round robins, every team raced each other three times, with the exception of the New Zealand boat who, as the defender had already qualified for the final.
The defeats of the Christmas Regatta, that sting of humiliation still resonated through the team’s metal. The atmosphere had changed by now, the mindset of nothing to lose, everything to prove, a wolf cornered on a cliff, forward was the only option, the bite would be faster and stronger, a necessity to keep the cup dreams afloat. Perhaps the perfect cocktail for the underdog.
Coach Rob Wilson talks through the game plan as the first official races of the 36th America’s Cup start.
Andrew “Hendo” Henderson prepares to cut the lines attaching the race boat to the performance rib.
The last move is to clear non-essential personnel from the race boat and wrap up any weather calls or sail selections.
Brittania races past the performance rib during the first race of the Round robins, beating American Magic.
Sir Ben, Rob, and Meteo expert, Juan Villa discuss the previous race and forecast conditions for the second outing of the day.
Giles Scott watches for wind changes as the team prepares to race the Italian chapter, Luna Rossa in race 2.
Almost every interaction between the race boat and the performance team happens on the side on the boat.
Brittania took the win over Luna Rossa in the second race, making it two wins. The team had been working very hard since the Christmas regatta, taking very few days off. At this stage, it was just two race wins, a great start but plenty to go.
Winners are grinners, the grinders union member; Neil Hunter and David Carr, share a joke with System Lead Andy “Animal” Mclean following the race win
