A British challenger has qualified for the America's Cup match for the first time since 1964, with Ineos Britannia securing the final race victory they needed against Luna Rossa to claim the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Sir Ben Ainslie’s team will now face defending champions New Zealand in a first-to-seven series, beginning next Saturday.

The dramatic conclusion of the Challenger Series final, which swung back and forth over four days, ended with a 7-4 victory for Ben Ainslie’s crew. Jubilant scenes followed on the water, as team backer Sir Jim Ratcliffe was invited aboard Rita, the team’s AC75 yacht, to join in the celebrations with the rest of the team.

After a tense and emotional week of competition, in which Britain and Italy exchanged victories in the early rounds, the final result was decisive. Ineos Britannia’s vast improvement over the course of the Challenger Series – following a shaky start in the August preliminary regatta – was evident as they triumphed in the last three races.

From light winds over the weekend, to strong gusts during the week, and back to lighter breezes on Friday, Ineos demonstrated their ability to perform across a wide range of conditions. However, their next challenge will be even greater as they face New Zealand, who have won the last two America's Cups and have had time to upgrade their boat while sitting out the final stages of the Challenger Series.

The main question at the start of the final race was whether there would be enough wind to allow racing to proceed. However, this year’s Cup has been full of surprises, and a consistent breeze of 8-15 knots greeted the teams on the racecourse – conditions that suited Ineos perfectly.

Britain won the start, reaching speeds of 40 knots and forcing Luna Rossa to tack early. From that point, Ineos remained in control, with the communication between Ainslie and his co-helm, Dylan Fletcher, who replaced Giles Scott in a bold last-minute decision by Ainslie, working flawlessly.

As Ineos Britannia crossed the finish line, there was an outpouring of emotion both on the boat and at the team’s base in Barcelona, where friends and family had gathered. It was a moment that reflected the long journey to this point. Ainslie’s team, founded a decade ago, is now in its third campaign, and their second with Mercedes F1 as a partner.

British challengers have been attempting to win the America’s Cup for 173 years, ever since the competition’s inception off the Isle of Wight in 1851. In 23 previous attempts, they have yet to claim victory.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Ainslie said after the celebrations had calmed down. “It’s a huge day for our team, and I’m incredibly proud of everyone – not just those on the water, but also the team on shore and everyone back in Brackley. It’s a massive achievement.

“We started this team 10 years ago when Britain wasn’t even in the America’s Cup. It took a lot of people coming together to support us, and of course, a huge thanks goes to Jim [Ratcliffe]. This is a big moment for all of us, and for all of our supporters.”

Despite the significance of winning the Louis Vuitton Cup, Ainslie, the most decorated sailor in Olympic history, is far from satisfied. His ultimate goal is to win the America’s Cup. In the immediate aftermath of Friday’s victory, his focus was already on the next challenge. As he muttered to his crew after crossing the line, “One more to go, boys.”

Now, all eyes turn to the Kiwis.