Hannah Mills Leads Great Britain Team Into Second Place After “Epic Day”

By David Parsons

Hannah Mills described Athena Pathway’s opening win at the PUIG Women’s America’s Cup as “an epic day.”

Wales’ double Olympic sailing champion captained her British team to success as they kicked off the history-making event with a race win off the coast of Barcelona.

The team is one of 12 teams competing in the first ever Women’s America’s Cup in the competition’s 173-year history.

Mills’ crew ended the first race day in second place overall, behind Italy, with a scorecard of 1-3-2-2.

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Helm – Hannah Mills pic.twitter.com/918DmF6I7S

— Athena Pathway (@AthenaPathway) June 27, 2023

Athena Pathway team principal and skipper Mills said: “It’s been an epic day, this is groundbreaking for not just women’s sailing but women’s sport in general.

“To have opened the first ever Women’s America’s Cup with a race win is incredible.

“The conditions were pretty choppy out there, especially in the downwinds, but this racing is unbelievable, it’s so intense and so fast, we would be out racing every day if we could.

“We’re happy to have secured a race win and be second on the board after day one, now we’re pumped to get back out there on Tuesday.”

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“A huge step towards retaining more young people in our sport and delivering a pathway for female and youth sailors to develop a career at the top end of our sport” – Hannah Mills

Introducing the Athena Foiling Pathway! pic.twitter.com/9Al5ugheKJ

— Athena Pathway (@AthenaPathway) July 3, 2023

The event began with four races for the women’s teams of those nations competing in the 37th America’s Cup.

Athena Pathway was lining up against Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA), NYYC American Magic (USA), Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI) and Orient Express – L’Oreal Racing Team (FRA).

The fleet of 12 teams has been split into two groups, those nations that have a team competing in the 37th America’s Cup, and those that have been invited to participate.

The qualification series sees a total of eight races completed for both groups.

The top three teams from each group progress into a final series of four races to decide the top two teams that will go head-to-head in a winner-takes-all final match race.

Athena Pathway is competing in Group A alongside the other America’s Cup teams and Group B consists of teams representing Spain, Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Sweden and Australia.

The British Athena Pathway AC40 boat is skippered by Wales' Hannah Mills – the most successful female sailor in Olympic history ⛵#BBCSailing pic.twitter.com/J20p4RF5zm

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) October 5, 2024