'The comeback is on.' Britannia scores first points of America's Cup final, trails New Zealand 4-2

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — INEOS Britannia got back into the America's Cup final after scoring its first two wins over Emirates Team New Zealand, cutting the deficit in the first-to-seven wins to 4-2 on Wednesday.

The British capitalized on uncharacteristic mistakes by the Kiwis, who gifted their rivals a huge lead before Race 5 even started and then suffered another slip that hurt their chances of catching Britannia on a close Race 6.

“There is still a long way to go, but the comeback is on,” Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie said from his cockpit.

Later, he added on shore: “It’s a massive day for our team to really believe we can get back in this, and now the trick is to ride that momentum all the way.”

The British have never won the America’s Cup in its 173-year history and are in their first final in six decades. New Zealand is trying to win the Auld Mug, the oldest trophy in international sport, for a third straight time and fifth overall.

New Zealand had sailed flawlessly to sweep the first four races held in view of the Barcelona beachfront. But the defenders couldn't handle the low winds and high waves and made their first error of the series when their yacht fell off its foils during a turn in the pre-start buildup.

The Taihoro was left flailing while Britannia buzzed it twice before taking off to build a huge advantage. When Britannia crossed the line New Zealand was almost 1,200 meters behind.

“It was a dream scenario for a start to have one boat off the foils and be able to get away with a clean start,” said Britannia trimmer Bleddyn Mon.

The British followed that up with a second victory that will surely be a bigger boost to their confidence. The Kiwis were closing when a dip of the hull into the water cost them valuable time in a contest that was decided by just seven seconds.

“You make a few little mistakes and you lose races," New Zealand skipper Peter Burling said. "That’s what we love about sport, and we also have a battle on our hands.”

Ainslie said that practicing on Tuesday in similarly choppy waves, while New Zealand stayed at base, helped prepare his team for similar waters once the racing resumed. That and a Britannia hull design suited for wavier water, compared to the New Zealand boat which he said appeared to perform better in flat seas.

As reigning champion, New Zealand had a guaranteed spot in America’s Cup finals, in addition to picking the venue and the rules. The Taihoro hadn’t raced for a month until the finals started on Saturday as it sat out the playoff rounds.

Britannia came in with more real racing practice and counts on the backing of the engineering expertise of the Mercedes Formula 1 team. New Zealand, for its part, relies on an in-house design team that produced the revolutionary design for the 75-foot AC75s.

Races 7 and 8 are scheduled for Friday, giving New Zealand one day to figure out what went wrong.

“We didn’t really executed our best today, so we let ourselves down," ETNZ helmsman Nathan Outteridge said. “We will go and review that tonight and come back in better shape.”

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Emirates Team New Zealand crew prepares for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand, right, and Ineos Britannia race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 6 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia, left, and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Ineos Britannia, right, and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Ineos Britannia races against Emirates Team New Zealand during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 6 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Catalan police, Mossos d'Esquadra overfly the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Emirates Team New Zealand races during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie reacts after winning the race 5 of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4, in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia races during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Ineos Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie reacts after winning the race 5 of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4, in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia crosses the finish line as they win the race 5 of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4, in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia, right, and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia, left, and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia crosses the finish line as they win the race 5 of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4, in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia sails before the start of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia sails before the start of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia sails before the start of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 4 race 5 in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a letter to conservative supporters rallying outside his Seoul residence, vowed to “fight to the end” against “anti-state forces,” while his legal team claimed on Thursday that police officers attempting to detain him could face arrest by his presidential security service or even civilians.

Yoon’s latest statements of defiance came as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials prepared to execute its detainment warrant against him, issued by a Seoul court on Tuesday and valid for one week. The warrant was in response to Yoon’s evasion of multiple requests to appear for questioning and blocking searches of his office, hindering an investigation into whether his short-lived power grab on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion.

Oh Dong-woon, the anti-corruption agency’s chief prosecutor, has indicated that police forces might be deployed if Yoon’s security service resists the detention attempt, which could occur as early as Thursday. But it remains unclear whether Yoon can be compelled to submit to questioning.

Yoon’s legal team issued a statement on Thursday warning that any attempt by the anti-corruption agency to use police mobile units for his detention would exceed their legal authority. The lawyers further said that police officers could face arrest by either the “presidential security service or any citizens” if they try to detain him. They didn’t further elaborate on the claim.

South Korean law permits anyone to make arrests to stop an active crime, and critics accused Yoon of inciting his supporters to obstruct law enforcement’s attempts to detain him.

In a message to hundreds of supporters gathered outside his residence Wednesday evening, Yoon said he would continue to fight against anti-state forces “violating our sovereignty” and putting the nation in “danger.” He applauded his supporters for their efforts to protect the country’s “liberal democracy and constitutional order” and said he was watching their protests on live YouTube broadcasts, according to a photo of the message shared by Yoon’s lawyers.

The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which drove the legislative vote that impeached Yoon on Dec. 14 over the martial law imposition, accused the president of trying to mobilize his supporters to block his detention and called for law enforcement authorities to execute the warrant immediately.

A growing number of Yoon’s supporters were again gathering near his residence on Thursday morning amid a heavy police presence, waving small South Korean and American flags and holding signs opposing his impeachment. There were no immediate reports of clashes or major disturbances.

“The Corruption Investigation Office must detain him immediately, and the presidential security service must cooperate with the lawful execution of the detainment warrant,” said Park Chan-dae, the Democrats’ floor leader.

“They should be aware that obstructing the execution of the detainment warrant could result in punishment for interference with official duties and complicity in rebellion,” he said.

Yoon’s lawyers have argued that the court’s detainment warrant is “invalid,” claiming that the anti-corruption agency lacks legal authority to investigate rebellion charges. They also accuse the court of bypassing a law that says locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge.

Some experts believe the anti-corruption agency, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities, would not risk clashing with Yoon’s security service, which has said it will provide security to Yoon in accordance with the law. The office may instead issue another summons for Yoon to appear for questioning if they are not able to execute the detainment warrant by Jan. 6.

If Yoon is detained, the anti-corruption agency will have 48 hours to investigate him and either request a warrant for his formal arrest or release him. Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested over their roles in the martial law enactment.

Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended following the National Assembly vote to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law, which lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

To formally end Yoon’s presidency, at least six justices on the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor.

The National Assembly voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case.

In the face of growing pressure, the country’s new interim leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new justices on Tuesday, which possibly increased the chances of the court upholding Yoon’s impeachment.

Cho Han-chang, one of the newly appointed court justices, said Thursday that he begins his job with a “heavy heart.” Jeong Gye-seon, the other new justice, expressed hope that the remaining vacancy would be filled.

Yoon’s imposition of martial law lasted only six hours but triggered huge political turmoil that also halted high-level diplomacy and shocked financial markets. Yoon and his military leadership have been accused of attempting to block the National Assembly from voting to end martial law by sending hundreds of heavily armed troops to encircle the building. Lawmakers who managed to get in voted unanimously 190-0 to lift martial law, hours after Yoon declared it on late-night television.

Yoon has also been accused of ordering defense counterintelligence officials to detain key politicians, including opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik.

Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, portraying it as a temporary warning against the Democratic Party, which he has described as an “anti-state” force obstructing his agenda with its legislative majority.

Yoon has also claimed he had no intention to paralyze the functioning of the assembly, saying that the troops were sent to maintain order, and also denied planning to arrest politicians. But some arrested military commanders have contradicted Yoon’s claims.

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The signs read, "Oppose impeachment." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The signs read, "Oppose impeachment." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The signs read, "Oppose impeachment." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose a court having issued a warrant to detain Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The signs read, "Oppose impeachment." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

FILE - In this photo provided by the South Korean President Office, the country's President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 14, 2024. (South Korean Presidential Office via AP, File)