37th America’s Cup – Barcelona | 22 August 2024

Thursday 22 August 2024. Battle has commenced for the AC75 boats with the first duels on Catalan waters taking place from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 August in the Preliminary Regatta. Aboard these revolutionary foiling monohulls, that can top out at 100km an hour, a succession of races saw teams achieve 35-40 knots off Barcelona today, giving those watching a glimpse of what the 37th America’s Cup has in store. On the programme: the Preliminary Regatta, the Louis Vuitton Cup and of course the America’s Cup finale itself starting 12 October. One Defender and five Challengers will be going all out in a contest to lift the oldest sports trophy in the world.  This is the first time since 2010, when Alinghi lost to Oracle, that the Cup has returned to the Old Continent.

Meticulously planned protocol

Under the America’s Cup format, five Challengers compete for the right to challenge the Defender during the Louis Vuitton Cup which will be held 29 August to 7 October. The five confront each other during two Round Robins from 29 August to 8 September, the team with the least number of points will be eliminated. The four best teams go through to the semi-final from 14 to 19 September. The two finalists then battle it out from 26 September to 7 October to win the right to become the official Challenger to go up against Emirates Team New Zealand, the Defender.

 

Big gun line up

The English on YCM member Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Britannia are determined to give it their all to lift the Silver Ewer. Although it was the Brits that initiated the contest in 1851, no British challenger has ever won the event. This team has the legendary Ben Ainslie at the helm.

As for the Swiss on Alinghi Red Bull Racing they will be relying on the talented Geneva sailor Arnaud Psarofaghis to add a third title to their successes in 2003 and 2007. With the excellent Jimmy Spithill at the helm the Italians on Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, who were finalists in the last edition, will be more determined than ever. From across the Atlantic, the USA Challenger American Magic echoes a long history with the Cup. The schooner America was the first to win the Silver Ewer in 1851, hence the name of the competition, before then defending and winning the trophy up to 1983, a record in the history of sport. On board Patriot, helmsman Tom Slingsby will have his sights set on bringing it home again. And last but by no means least the French from Orient Express Racing Team are betting on the talented young Breton Quentin Delapierre as their helmsman.

 

 

 

Emirates Team New Zealand: the formidable Kiwis

Headed by Matteo de Nora, member of Yacht Club de Monaco’s Management Committee, Emirates Team New Zealand is the big Challenger to beat. After winning the Silver Ewer in Bermuda in 2017, before successfully defending their title at home in 2021, the Kiwis led by the impressive Pete Burling this year chose to organise the competition in Barcelona. Seen by all as major players in the Cup’s history, the Kiwis are on board Taihoro in their bid to retain the oldest trophy in sport in October.