Competition: | 37th America's Cup |
Defender Country: | New Zealand |
Challenger Country: | United Kingdom |
Challenger Yacht: | TBD |
Location: | Barcelona |
Dates: | October 12–20, 2024[1] |
Winning Club: | TBD |
Prev: | 2021 |
Edition: | 37th |
Next: | 38th |
The America's Cup is the oldest continuous competition in international sport, and among the world's most prestigious sporting trophies. The 37th America's Cup will be raced from 12 October 2024 as a first-to-seven-wins match-race series in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, between a yacht representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and a yacht representing the yacht club that wins the Louis Vuitton Challenger Selections Series, also in Barcelona, in September 2024.[2] [1] [3]
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is again the defender of the America's Cup after its yacht Te Rehutai, owned and sailed by the Emirates Team New Zealand syndicate, was the successful defender in the 36th America's Cup, beating the challenger Luna Rossa, representing Circolo della Vela Sicilia, 7–3 in a first-to-seven series raced from 10 to 17 March 2021 in the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf off Auckland, New Zealand.
Immediately after Te Rehutai achieved its seventh win in the 36th America's Cup, the Chairman of Royal Yacht Squadron Racing, Bertie Bicket, issued a pre-arranged, "friendly" challenge to the Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Aaron Young.[4] [5] This made Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd the Challenger of Record for the next America's Cup.[6]
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was founded in 1871 as the Auckland Yacht Club and took its current name in 1902 after receiving a warrant in the name of King Edward VII.[7] Royal Yacht Squadron Racing was founded in 2014 and is an affiliated member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
See main article: articles and America's Cup.
See main article: articles and History of the America's Cup.
The America's Cup is a highly prestigious event, being the oldest continuous competition in international sport, and the fourth oldest continuous sporting trophy of any kind.[8] As of 31 March 2021, a total of 36 cup matches have been held. With 25 matches the New York Yacht Club has won the most titles so far.
The 36th match from 10 to 17 March 2021 was the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's fourth America's Cup victory, following its wins in 1995, 2000 and 2017, making it the most successful club in the competition's history except for the New York Yacht Club. The 2021 win also made the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron the only club to have twice successfully challenged for and then defended the America's Cup.[9]
The challenge by Royal Yacht Squadron to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was made on board the 110 foot luxury sailing yacht Imagine immediately following the completion of the 10th and final race of the 36th America's Cup on 17 March 2021.[10] [11]
The challenge was a pre-arranged "friendly" challenge arranged by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd and their respective sailing teams Team New Zealand and Ineos Team UK. The fact of the challenge and some details were made public on 19 March 2021. Both the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd consider the challenge to be valid.[12] [13] [14] [15]
See main article: articles and America's Cup.
The full text and terms of the challenge have not been made public, but a number of areas of agreement have been revealed in media statements by the Royal Yacht Squadron and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and their sailing teams, and in subsequent public comments. Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron said they would negotiate and issue a protocol to govern the 37th America's Cup by 19 November 2021, eight months after they revealed initial information about the challenge.[12]
See also: America's Cup yacht class. It has been agreed the America's Cup 75 (AC75), a foiling monohull class developed and used for the first time for the 36th America's Cup shall remain the class of yacht for the 37th America's Cup. Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron also intend that the AC75 class should be used for the 38th America's Cup, and say that agreement to this will be a condition of entry for any other complying clubs wishing to enter any challenger series for the 37th America's Cup.[12]
For the first two preliminary regattas as well as the Youth & Women's Americas Cup the AC75 derived AC40 one design class is used. Additionally, the competing teams are allowed to develop 40 foot test boats called LEQ12.[16]
It has been agreed a new crew nationality rule will require 100% of race crews to either be a passport holder of the country the team's yacht club as at 19 March 2021 or to have been physically present in that country (or, acting on behalf of such a yacht club in Auckland, the venue of the 36th America's Cup Events) for two of the previous three years prior to 18 March 2021. There will be a discretionary provision allowing a quota of non-nationals on the race crew for competitors from "emerging nations", although this term and the size of the quota is yet to be defined.[12]
To reduce costs, it has been agreed teams will be restricted to building only one new AC75 for the 37th America's Cup. In addition, Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have committed to "investigating and agreeing a meaningful package of campaign cost reduction measures including measures to attract a higher number of challengers and to assist with the establishment of new teams".[12]
Royal Yacht Squadron and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron planned to announce the venue for the 37th America's Cup by 19 September 2021. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her Government wanted to see the cup defended in Auckland in 2023, and announced the availability of Government funding to assist Team New Zealand to stay together, subject to a number of conditions, including an expectation the Cup will be defended in New Zealand.[17]
However, on 29 March 2022, Barcelona was announced as the host of the 2024 America's Cup. Barcelona's bid saw an unprecedented alliance across public and private entities working together to attract the America's Cup to Barcelona which included the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council, City Hall of Barcelona, Port of Barcelona, Barcelona Global's investment agency and Barcelona & Partners.[18] Of the previous 36 cup matches, 33 have been held in the defender's home waters. The Deed of Gift provides for the defender to name the venue if they and the Challenger of Record cannot reach agreement.
The 37th America's Cup will be raced in Barcelona as a first-to-seven-wins series from 12 October 2024. It is expected to be completed on or before 21 October 2024.[19] [14] This complies with the deed which requires the match to be held in summer or summer-shoulder months. In the southern hemisphere, this is defined as between 1 November and 30 April. In the northern hemisphere, it is defined as between 1 May and 31 October.[20]
2021 | 17 Nov | AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule V2 Published |
1 Dec | Entries for Challengers Open | |
2022 | 31 Mar | Defender to announce Match Venue and approximate event dates |
17 Jun | New competitors may sail Version 1 AC75s for 20 sailing days | |
31 Jul | Entry Period Closes | |
17 Sep | Competitors may sail an AC75 Yacht | |
30 Nov | ACE to announce race schedule for the Match | |
ACE to announce racing area for CSS and Match | ||
31 Dec | ACE to publish Brand Manual | |
2023 | 31 May | Final cut off for late Challenger entries |
30 Jun | ACE to publish Youth and Women's AC Agreement | |
30 Jun | COR/D to publish Match Conditions | |
14 - 17 Sep | Preliminary Regatta Vilanova i la Geltrú | |
22 Nov - 4 Dec | Preliminary Regatta Jeddah | |
30 Nov | COR/D to publish CSS Conditions | |
2024 | 22 - 25 Aug | Preliminary Regatta in Barcelona |
29 Aug - 8 Sep | Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robins | |
14 - 19 Sep | Louis Vuitton Cup Semi Finals | |
26 Sep - 5 Oct | Louis Vuitton Cup Finals | |
12 - 21 Oct | 37th America’s Cup Match |
Royal Yacht Squadron and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron announced a to establish a single Event Authority responsible for the conduct of all racing and the management of commercial activities relating to the 37th America's Cup.[12] Therefore, 'ACE (America's Cup Event) Barcelona S.L.' was created as the sole Event Authority for the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona and is exclusively responsible for the planning, management and delivery of a successful event.[22]
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the Challenger of Record for the 37th America's Cup. Their team, INEOS Britannia, previously lost to Emirates Team New Zealand in the 2017 Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals, and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the 2021 Prada Cup final. The Royal Yacht Squadron's challenge will be the first time a British team has competed in three consecutive America's Cup cycles since 1930.
Circolo della Vela Sicilia, represented by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, have indicated their interest in returning for the 37th America's Cup. Luna Rossa previously lost to Emirates Team New Zealand in the 2021 America's Cup final. In a statement, the team said that they looked "forward to returning to racing on the AC75s in the next edition of the America's Cup".[23]
The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) had indicated interest in returning for the 37th America's Cup. American Magic previously lost to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the 2021 Prada Cup semi-final. The NYYC submitted a challenge to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on May 6, 2021, alongside an Evolutionary Draft Protocol for the 37th America's Cup.[24] The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron released a statement in response, where they said they were "delighted to hear that the New York Yacht Club" were interested, but questioned, "their motives for such a presumptuous statement when entries [did not] open for some time."[25] The Royal Yacht Squadron and Ineos Team UK also released a statement in response to the New York Yacht Club's challenge, stating that they were "working collaboratively with the Royal Yacht Squadron and Team New Zealand".[26]
The NYYC had dropped American Magic and announced a tentative partnership with Stars & Stripes, then announced they would no longer pursue the 37th Americas Cup, and then on 7 January opted back in with American Magic.[27]
In December 2021 Alinghi founder Ernesto Bertarelli and two-time Olympic champion Hans Peter Steinacher announced the launch of the new Alinghi Red Bull Racing challenge. Bertarelli will continue to represent the Société Nautique de Genève, the yacht club that won the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup, the 2003 America's Cup, and the 2007 America's Cup.[28]
On 3 January 2023, the organisers of the 37th America's Cup announced that K-Challenge Racing would challenge for the 37th America's Cup, after previously challenging for the 32nd America's Cup in 2007. Led by Stephane Kandler and Bruno Dubois, the team, named Orient Express Team,[29] will represent the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.[30]
Syndicate | Name | Shipyard | Unveiled | Launched | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emirates Team New Zealand | Taihoro | Team New Zealand | April 11, 2024 | April 12, 2024 | [31] [32] | |
INEOS Team UK | Britannia | Carrington Boats | April 20, 2024 | April 26, 2024 | [33] [34] [35] | |
American Magic | Patriot | American Magic | April 25, 2024 | May 7, 2024 | [36] [37] | |
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli | Luna Rossa | Persico Marine | April 13, 2024 | April 13, 2024 | [38] | |
Alinghi Red Bull Racing | BoatOne | Alinghi Red Bull Racing | April 5, 2024 | April 16, 2024 | [39] [40] | |
Orient Express Team | TBA | Multiplast | May 25, 2024 | May 27, 2024 | [41] [42] |
The first two preliminary regattas have been raced in AC40 one design yachts. The third preliminary regatta in Barcelona will see the new AC75 yachts, that will also compete in the challenger series and the America's cup.[43]
Host | Dates | Winning team | Yacht class | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain | September 14–17, 2023 | NYYC American Magic | AC40 | |
2 | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | November 22 – December 4, 2023 | Emirates Team New Zealand | AC40 | |
3 | Barcelona, Spain | August 2024 | TBD | AC75 |
|
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Unlike the first rounds which were fleet races, the third is held in match racing format - of 15 races plus a final.
Races:
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Standings:
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The 2024 Louis Vuitton Cup will be the competition to determine the challenger for the 2024 America's Cup will be held over August – October 2024 in Barcelona. The format will be: a double round-robin of all five challengers plus the defender Team New Zealand (who will not score points), followed by semifinals of four highest ranked challengers in best of 9 match race series, the winners of which then compete in a best of 13 match race series.[45]
The America's Cup match will a best of 13 race series to be held October 2024 between Emirates Team New Zealand and the winner of the qualifying event - the 2024 Louis Vuitton Cup.[46] Two races per day will be held, starting from October 12, with Reserve Days on Oct 14-15, 17 and 22-27.
Emirates Team New Zealand | |||||||||||||||
TBD |
Alongside the protocol for the 37th Americas Cup, a Youth & Women's event was announced to be held in the AC40 class racing in Barcelona alongside the Americas Cup. The youth event is open to sailors under 25 years of age, with two male and two female sailors on each boat, whilst the women's event is open to any female sailors.
Team | Yacht Club | Skipper | Training Platform | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Emirates Team New Zealand | Josh Junior | ETF26 AC40 | ||
Alinghi Red Bull Racing | Hans Peter Steinacher | 69F TF35 | ||
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli | Max Sirena | 69F | ||
NYYC American Magic | Terry Hutchinson | 69F | ||
Athena Pathway | Hannah Mills | ETF26 Waszp | ||
Orient Express Team | Quentin Delapierre | |||
Sail BCN | Guillermo Altadill | |||
DutchSail | | Simeon Tienpont | 69F Waszp | |
AC40 Canada | Isabella Bertold Andrew Wood | |||
EMB Racing | | Carolina Werner Marc Pickel | ||
Swedish Challenge powered by Artemis Technologies | | Anna Östling | Waszp | |
Australia Challenge | Olivia Price Nina Curtis |