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The final round of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series takes place in Fukuoka, Japan, from 18thto 20th November, an historic event that sees America’s Cup racing taking place in Japan for the first time ever, and the stage is set for the denouement of an incredible series of races that stretch back to the summer of 2015.
Not only is this event breaking new ground in Asia, it is also where critical points for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers will be awarded to the teams which finish first and second overall in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series. The importance of these points cannot be stated enough – two points for first and one for second, both of which are significant advantages in the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda.
Put simply, two points won in Fukuoka is the equivalent of beating two teams in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers, a headstart in May 2017 which would be incredibly valuable. The same applies for the point on offer for second place in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers – that is a point the rival teams must claw back to put themselves back on a level playing field in the opening round of competition on Bermuda’s Great Sound in 2017.
Currently it is Land Rover BAR who are in top spot, leading the pack by 14 points going into Fukuoka. That may seem like a healthy gap, but with three races on Saturday offering ten points for a win, and double points on offer in all three races on Sunday, that lead could be wiped out very quickly. Sir Ben Ainslie and his British team have the experience, knowledge and performance to win, but pressure can be a major obstacle, and all their rivals will be fighting tooth and nail to make that pressure count.
The British outfit’s closest rivals currently are ORACLE TEAM USA, yet to win a regatta in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, so they will be pulling out all the stops to finish 2016 in style. The Defenders will take part in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers in 2017, before moving straight to the America’s Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton, the head to head series of match races which will determine who wins the 35th running of the America’s Cup. Should ORACLE TEAM USA win the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers, they will take a one point lead into the final stage, another major advantage whichever team they will face, so Jimmy Spithill and his crew will be pushing themselves harder than ever to win in Fukuoka and carry that advantage right through until June 2017.
Emirates Team New Zealand’s consistency throughout 2015 and 2016 has seen them hold the overall lead and always being close to the top, so they are very strong contenders for outright honours in Japan. In Toulon they were a little off the pace, recording their lowest finish of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, but that must make the Kiwis even more dangerous in Fukuoka and all their rivals will be keeping a close eye on the New Zealanders throughout the whole weekend.
The home team, SoftBank Team Japan, have been putting in markedly improved performances at each round, climbing the podium throughout the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series and now with only the top step at a Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event eluding them. To register their first win in front of their home fans would be a dream come true for Dean Barker, Fuku Sofuku and the whole team, and, if other results went their way, they could even be fighting for those Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifier points as Sunday’s races come to a close.
The same is almost true for Artemis Racing, the Swedish outfit who so dominated the last round in Toulon, and who won in Bermuda 2015 and Chicago in June 2016. If Nathan Outteridge’s crew can pick up where they left off in France, they could find themselves pushing for second place overall as it all comes to a close on Sunday afternoon in Fukuoka, but they too need the teams ahead of them to struggle in Japan to finish the whole series in position to take that point in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers.
It is only Groupama Team France who go to Japan without a mathematical chance of winning or finishing second in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, but the French outfit will be determined to sign off their 2015 / 2016 campaign positively. They have proved at numerous events that they have what it takes to win, especially in lighter winds, so it would be no surprise to see Franck Cammas and his team bounce back in Japan and claim their first Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series regatta honours on Sunday 20th November.
In short, there is all to play for in Japan and the stakes could not be higher for all involved. This promises to be the showdown that the fantastic 2015 / 2016 Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series deserves, so do not miss a minute!
Buy tickets to the final showdown of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series: http://lvacws-fukuoka.jp/en/ticket.html
Find out where to watch the racing in Fukuoka in your country here: https://www.americascup.com/en/where-to-watch.html
