Rossiter competing for America’s Cup place as part of Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia

Newbury’s Matt Rossiter is currently competing for a place in the 2024 America’s Cup, as part of the INEOS Britannia team in Barcelona.

Skippered by Sir Ben Ainslie, the sailing team are locked in a battle with Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

The competition is prestigious in its own right, but the winner will go on to face holders Emirates Team New Zealand in the 37th America’s Cup on October 12th.

Since joining forces with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS in 2018 the team has strived for excellence, with Ainslie acting as CEO as well as Skipper, while Mercedes’ Formula One technical director James Allison is also involved.

They came runners up at the last America’s Cup, held in New Zealand in 2021, and are now fighting for another shot at glory.

A former Olympian and two time World Champion rower in the coxless four, Rossiter is now part of the engine room of the boat, which features eight cyclors who pedal to power the vessel along.

Rossiter’s mother, Kate, discussed the atmosphere in Barcelona and how the competition has gone so far.

“The INEOS base is incredibly supportive,” she said.

“Seeing the boat go out in the morning, all the boats in the harbour sound their horns… and you have a huge British flag flying above the base.

“But when the racing begins it’s incredibly tense… you have all of the team’s specialists and experts watching on avidly.

“Matt knows what his role is, he produces the power.

“He has to keep completely fit and focussed.

The first few rounds have seen the two sides match each other blow for blow since the final began last Thursday.

There has been some disruption however, with race three essentially abandoned twice on the 28th and 29th, thanks to a lack of wind and a broken mainsail for the Italians.

“It’s really hard,” Rossiter’s mother explained.

“They’re waiting to suddenly exert vast amounts of energy, so it’s very frustrating when mother nature takes the wind away.

“But that’s the nature of sailing. You have to cope, there’s no other option.

“It’s hard for all of them when they’re waiting for the wind to get up or down, and when you’re in a race it can suddenly disappear.”

The winner will be the first to seven race wins, with the two teams tied at four apiece on Wednesday this week.