America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand confirm Royal Yacht Squadron as Challenger

The Castle - base of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, Isle of Wight - June 2019 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

The Defender for the 37th America's Cup the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in conjunction with its team, Emirates Team New Zealand have confirmed the Royal Yacht Squadron as the Challenger for the 37th Match.

The formal announcement issued by the two clubs and teams reads:

Emirates Team New Zealand is pleased to confirm that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has accepted a Notice of Challenge for the 37th America's Cup (AC37) from the Royal Yacht Squadron Racing, represented by INEOS Team UK, which will act as the Challenger of Record for AC37.

"The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have received and accepted a challenge for the 37th America's Cup from our long-standing British friends at Royal Yacht Squadron Racing." Said Aaron Young - RNZYS Commodore. "It is great to once again have the RYSR involved, given they were the first yacht club that presented this trophy over 170 years ago, which really started the legacy of the America's Cup. Along with Emirates Team New Zealand, we look forward to working through the details of the next event with them. "

A Protocol Governing AC37 will be published within eight months including the provisions outlined in this release.

It has been agreed the AC75 Class shall remain the class of yacht for the next two America's Cup cycles, and agreement to this is a condition of entry.

The teams will be restricted to building only one new AC75 for the next event.

A single Event Authority will be appointed to be responsible for the conduct of all racing and the management of commercial activities relating to AC37.

The Defender and the Challenger of Record, will be 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.

A new Crew Nationality Rule will require 100% of the race crew for each competitor 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 yacht club in Auckland, the venue of the AC36 Events) for two of the previous three years prior to 18 March 2021. As an exception to this requirement, there will be a discretionary provision allowing a quota of non-nationals on the race crew for competitors from "Emerging Nations".

There are a number of different options but it is intended that the Venue for the Match will be determined within six months and the dates of racing announced in the Protocol, if not before.

"The 37th America's Cup effectively starts the moment the team crossed the finish line on Wednesday afternoon," said Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton.

"It is very exciting to have a new Challenger of Record to continue to build the scale of the America's Cup globally. The AC75's and the unprecedented broadcast reach of the exciting racing from Auckland's stunning Waitemata harbour have really put Auckland and the America's Cup at the forefront of international sport."