Sailing: Women’s America’s Cup 2024
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
In the first Women’s America’s Cup, in its 173-year history, the British Athena Pathway team won their opening race on 5 October 2024.
The British team is one of 12 teams competing in this event and finished the first day in second place overall after four races in Barcelona.
The team’s principal and skipper, Hannah Mills, remarked:
“It’s been an epic day, this is groundbreaking for not just women’s sailing but women’s sport in general.”
And added:
“To have opened the first ever Women’s America’s Cup with a race win is incredible.”
The 12 teams, divided into two Groups A & B, comprise competitors from Great Britain, New Zealand, Italy, the United States, Switzerland, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Sweden and Australia.
After eight races, the top three teams from each Group will compete in a final series of four races, and the top two teams from them will compete in a final race to decide the overall winner of the event.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
