America's Cup- Sweden to host World Series regatta in 2015

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz on 26 Nov 2014 Artemis Racing and the City of Gothenburg are set to host an America’s Cup World Series event during the last weekend of August (28th - 30th) 2015.

The America’s Cup World Series is the preliminary competition in the 35th America’s Cup but does not count for significant points.

Beginning in the European summer of 2015, the circuit will feature all of the America’s Cup teams racing in one design AC45 catamarans.

The overall ranking position in the America’s Cup World Series will determine the starting points score of the teams in the America's Cup Qualifiers in 2017. The top boat in the ACWS will, as the Protocol currently stands, take two points into the Qualifiers, and the second placed boat will take a single point into their Qualifier's score.

Where a team has two AC45's in the World Series average points will be used to determine their points score.

'It’s super exciting to announce that the America’s Cup World Series is coming to Sweden next year. It will provide a great opportunity for Artemis Racing to showcase our sport and our America’s Cup program' said Iain Percy, Artemis Racing's Team Manager.



Racing will take place either on the Gota River close to the city centre, or at Långedrag, and the race village will be located in Frihamnen.

The Swedish announcement comes after a similar announcement by British Challenger, Ben Ainslie Racing, to host two ACWS events in Portsmouth, England in 2015 and 2016.

According toi the Protocol, between six and eight events are rostered for 2015 and 2016 ahead of the 35th America's Cup expected to be sailed in Bermuda. Three, maybe four of those spots are now taken, but none by a city/port without a Cup involvement.

The rival circuit to the ACWS, the Extreme Sailing Series, contested in 40ft catamarans sails in eight venues, none of which has a direct America's Cup connection, and has 15 teams listed, each sailing a single boat.

To date Bermuda has been announced as a World Series venue, along with Portsmouth and now Gothenburg. Cagliari is also expected to be announced, and three of the five Challengers have taken up their right to hold one World Series event. It is not clear whether Oracle Team USA consider Bermuda to be a 'home game' assuming the British Overseas Territory gets the nod as a Match Venue in a media conference to be hosted in Manhattan, New York on December 2.

Team France are yet to make an announcement on an ACWS event. Emirates Team New Zealand are also to make a committment - which is believed to be dependent on the decision as to a Match venue and whether the Economic Development/Trade and Industry arm of the NZ Government will support the event financially.

It is believed that the other possible venue for the America's Cup Match, San Diego, is not interested in holding an ACWS event unless they are the Match Venue. San Diego hosted an ACWS round prior to the 34th America's Cup.

Several of the teams have converted AC45's to foilers to use as trial boats ahead of designing and building an AC62. The teams are using their existing AC45's, or are converting second hand AC45's. In the last version of the ACWS, they sailed in displacement mode.

Most are expected to race two of the foilers in the America's Cup World Series, which will give ten sailing crew regular race practice. Eight crew are required on the AC62 which will be sailed in the 35th America's Cup.