Oct 12 V7N - Britain and defending champions New Zealand are set to compete in the opening two races of the 37th America's Cup on Saturday, a first-to-seven series to determine the winner of the historic sailing competition. This marks the first time in 60 years that Ben Ainslie's British team has reached the final. The race for the "Auld Mug," the oldest international sporting trophy, takes place in the Mediterranean off Barcelona, where variable winds and sea conditions have posed challenges in the lead-up.

Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor, and co-helm Dylan Fletcher, will face New Zealand’s Peter Burling, a double America's Cup winner, and Nathan Outteridge. Both teams have refined their high-tech AC75 foiling monohulls, and with speed being crucial, the competition is expected to be intense. Burling expressed anticipation for the matchup, noting that "two different looking boats" may be "going reasonably similar speeds."

Ainslie's quest to "bring the Cup home" has been backed by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, with technical support from the Mercedes Formula One team. The British team earned their spot by defeating Italy 7-4 in the Louis Vuitton Cup, while New Zealand has been preparing independently. Team boss Grant Dalton predicts the AC75 boats will be closely matched, making the start of each race critical.

Additionally, this year's America's Cup will feature its first women's competition, with Britain and Italy qualifying for the inaugural final, set to take place on Saturday alongside the main event.

END/WSP/RH/