Arnault fetes Emirates New Zealand winning America’s Cup Barcelona

Bernard Arnault, Europe’s richest man, feted Emirates New Zealand victory in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Barcelona this weekend, handing over the cup to Ben Ainslie, helmsman of the winning team.

 
Emirates New Zealand Team won the ‘Auld Mug’ – as the trophy has long been nicknamed – by defeating INEOS Britannia in the waters off the coast of the Catalan capital. 
 
The coveted trophy was contained within its Louis Vuitton Trophy trunk and awarded by Arnault, LVMH chairman and CEO, and Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO. The executives presented the trophy to Emirates New Zealand Team’s helmsman, Peter Burling.

“As both the defender and organizer of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup – and now also the only one to win three times in a row with the same team – you have demonstrated exceptional skill on and off the water, setting a high bar for future editions,” said Beccari.
 
The first Vuitton Trophy trunk was created for the Auld Mug back in 1988 for the America’s Cup won by San Diego Yacht Club. The contemporary version of the Trophy Trunk, made in Louis Vuitton’s historic Asnières workshop. The Trophy Trunk is wrapped in the emblematic Monogram canvas featuring a “V” for “Victory” in blue and red stripes on the trunk’s front doors.
 
The final competition, beginning on October 12, saw INEOS Britannia challenge the Defender champion, Emirates Team New Zealand, for the ultimate prize. Somewhat confusingly, the name of the challengers’ competition, which began in late August, is the Louis Vuitton Cup.
 
Beccari also had words for defeated finalists: “To INEOS Britannia, my sincere admiration for your formidable challenge. We are proud to have presented you with the Louis Vuitton Cup and its trophy trunk, a symbol of your remarkable achievement.”