America's Cup: A look back on a Challenging Year - and what lies ahead?
by America's Cup media 18 Jul 2020 19:55 PDT
19 July 2020
INEOS Team UK - AC75 - Britannia - Portsmouth, UK - July 16, 2020 © Cameron Gregory
As the Challengers and Defender settle into what will be the Final phase of the 36th America's Cup, key members of the four teams give their views on what has been a challenging year to date, and give some thought as to what lies ahead.
With all the planned buildup regattas removed, and with each team having to operate against a unique set of challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, their success or otherwise in the 2021 America's Cup will be determined by how they have reacted to the pandemic, as much as any breakthrough design feature that may have been uncovered.
The teams will all converge on Auckland, arriving at the Cup venue having travelled down completely different paths. Who will emerge victorious? Or is their victory really just making it this far - still intact - and able to fight the final battles to come?