© Lloyd Images

Land Rover BAR’s first Challenge for the America’s Cup ended on the Great Sound, Bermuda, at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Playoff Semi-finals. Despite the team’s consistency on the start-line, and the rapid pace of development of their race boat, the team finished the semi-final 5-2 down to Emirates Team New Zealand.

A massive three race day concluded the Playoff Semi-Finals. The team sailed their race of the series, posting a win in race two and also achieving 100% flight, from start to finish.

It’s just two days short of exactly three years since the British team – who have their home in Portsmouth – officially launched their long-term challenge to bring the Cup home to British waters. It’s a vision that the team are as committed to now as they were at the official launch on that beautiful day at the Royal Museums Greenwich.

Land Rover and 11th Hour Racing have both confirmed their commitment to continue their partnerships with the team. These will go alongside the existing partners already signed up for the team’s next challenge, and the strength of the continued commitment from Land Rover BAR’s Shareholders.

Land Rover will continue their support as Title and Exclusive Innovation Partner, and they will increase the technology and engineering resources and expertise offered to the team for the design and development of the next America’s Cup race boat.

Alongside their goal to win the America’s Cup, Land Rover BAR have put sustainability at the core of all the team’s operations, working closely with Exclusive Sustainability Partner, 11th Hour Racing, a programme of The Schmidt Family Foundation. 11th Hour Racing will extend their support of the team to AC36 and the team’s goal to become the most sustainable sports team in the world.

Sir Ben Ainslie, Land Rover BAR Skipper and Team Principal: “Firstly well done to Emirates Team New Zealand. But I was really proud of the way the team sailed both today and with our approach to this whole series. We struggled coming into this with a lack of speed for a number of different reasons. The whole team; the designers, engineers, shore team and everyone in the office have dug so deep to make us more competitive. We did that throughout this competition to the point that there wasn’t a huge amount between the two boats today. It’s a huge credit to our team – and a huge thank you to them, I couldn’t be more proud. And a huge thank you to everyone back home in Britain for supporting us; we will be back next time and with support already in place today from Land Rover and 11th Hour Racing, I know we will be stronger.”

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