Please select your home edition
Edition
V-DRY-X

America's Cup World Series details published - confirmation to follow

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 1 Dec 2019 08:07 AEDT 1 December 2019
It is expected that the teams will race first generation AC75's in Auckland in the third America's Cup World Series event © Emirates Team New Zealand

America's Cup organisers have followed the line of the previous trophy holder by meeting an arbitrary Protocol publication deadline without publicly revealing any specifics.

The Protocol, or regatta rules, for the 36th America's Cup required the dates and venues for three America's Cup World Series events to be "announced on or before 30 November 2019."

That condition was apparently satisfied by the issuance, early Saturday afternoon NZT, of a pithy two-sentence statement by America's Cup organisers.

"2020 is shaping up to be an exciting America's Cup year as anticipation builds leading up to the first competitive action for the teams and their amazing new AC75 foiling monohulls during three America's Cup World Series events – the first of which will take place in Cagliari, Sardinia as previously announced.

"The venues and dates for the remaining two ACWS regattas have been finalised by the Defender and the Challenger of Record and full details will be publicly released over the coming weeks in coordination with the associated Host Cities and commercial partners."

Over four years ago, in February 2015, the same situation arose after the venues for the America's Cup World Series were required by the then Protocol to have been announced by February 15, 2015 and were "published" but not announced.

Then, a query by Sail-World as to how the requirement of the then Protocol for the 2017 America's Cup could have been satisfied without a formal media statement, elicited this response from an America's Cup Events Authority spokesman: "My understanding is the Protocol deadline was met - the required information has been published to the teams. The public announcement of that information will take place in March," he said the day after the February 15 2015 deadline.

Negotiations for the 2020 ACWS events went right down to the morning of the November 30 deadline. It is understood that all Teams have been advised of the dates and detail of the 2020 ACWS events, later confirmatory announcements will be made by the respective local authorities in the UK and New Zealand, expected to be complete by mid-December.

It is expected that Portsmouth (UK) and Auckland will be confirmed as the remaining two venues for the America's Cup World Series, where all entered teams will race their AC75 America's Cup class yachts. The first ACWS event was announced for Cagliari, Sardinia from April 23-27, 2020.

Challenger of Record Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has their base in Cagliari, and the area is renowned for good sailing breeze at that time of the year.

The Portsmouth event is expected to be held at the end of June 2020, and following that regatta, the AC75's will be shipped to Auckland - a 50-day voyage from Europe. Somewhat less by air freight.

New Zealand fans can expect to see the first Challengers sailing in August 2020, with base construction starting early in January or February 2020.

Consistent with a now more focussed approach by the British team, it is understood that INEOS Team UK, the Challenger of the Royal Yacht Squadron, is ambivalent about being the host team for the Portsmouth event - due to the logistical overhead involved, and a reluctance to divert team funds and assistance to a regatta staged mostly for the benefit of their competitors.

The Protocol requires the America's Cup World Series races to be organised and conducted by Circolo dela Vela Sicilia, the Challenger of Record for the 36th America's Cup. In practical terms, the regatta organisation falls to the Challenger of Record organisation, headed by long-time America's Cup sailor Laurent Esquier (FRA), the coach of New Zealand Challenge in the 1987 America's Cup in Fremantle. Esquier sailed his first America’s Cup at the age of 20 yrs and is a veteran of 11 America’s Cup campaigns.

Each America's Cup World Series regatta consists of four days racing preceded by several days of practice. Esquier told Sail-World in mid-October 2018 that “the America’s Cup World Series will be fleet racing, as it is quicker to run a fleet racing series than match racing."

The competing teams will have to contribute USD300,000 (NZD$467,000) each towards the regatta costs of each of the three America's Cup World Series Regattas.

A naming rights sponsor for the UK series will be announced at a later date.

No announcement has been made as to whether the fourth Challenger, Stars and Stripes Team USA, as the only single boat team, will be excused from competing in the European venues of the America's Cup World Series. The other teams will have the option of sailing their second AC75, either from their home base, or from Auckland while their first boat is in transit from Europe to Auckland.

Currently, the Protocol states that "each Competitor shall be required to enter and participate in all events of the ACWS. Any Challenger that does not meet this requirement will no longer be eligible to participate in either the Christmas Race [to be held in Auckland in December 2020] or the Challenger Selection Series." Stars + Stripes Team USA have previously told Sail-World that "we will be in Auckland".

It is expected that any exemption for the West Coast USA team from ACWS participation, will be dependent on an undertaking that they have the necessary funding in place to complete the build of their AC75 to a base design from Emirates Team New Zealand, and that they will compete in the Prada Cup in Auckland.

Unlike the ACWS events leading to the 2017 America's Cup, there is no carry over of points from the ACWS regattas into the America's Cup Challenger Selection Series, or Prada Cup.

In a significant departure from the previous America's Cup, coverage of all America's Cup World Series events will via free to air television outlets, and streamed to a variety of devices used by fans around the world, free of charge.

Related Articles

America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
(Updated) A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. Confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company. But what of Mainstream Media's role in the affair? Posted on 29 Jun
America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise. Posted on 23 Jun
Cup Spy: "Burling Rule" unlikely to be changed
The Defender is unlikely to soften the Rules and allow open season on its sailing team. Despite the shift of three times America's Cup winner, Peter Burling it is understood that there is unlikely to be any softening of the Nationality rule to enable Burling to get any closer to the action than a chase-boat in the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 20 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
America's Cup: Kiwis advertising for key people
Emirates Team NZ seeking new people for key roles ahead of its 12th America's Cup campaign Emirates Team New Zealand, the current America's Cup champion is gearing up for the 2027 Defence of the most prestigious trophy in sailing. The team has advertised eight positions in the IT, Meteorology and Engineering areas Posted on 12 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted on 29 May
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 26 May
America's Cup: Big changes in crew line-up
Women and Youth crews to sail in AC75 in the next Cup - Final Draft of AC38 Protocol Historic changes are proposed in the Final Draft of the Protocol released by the America's Cup Defender. For the first time a Female and Youth crew members will be part of the six-crew lineup on board the all-electric AC75s. Posted on 23 May
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to ExhibitSea Sure 2025Zhik 2024 December