Please select your home edition
Edition
Exposure Marine

America's Cup: Sailing Instructions posted - Preliminary Regatta

by Magnus Wheatley, America's Cup Media 30 Jul 2024 01:01 PDT
Barcelona - Venue for the 2024 America's Cup - Sept-Oct 2024 © Maria Muina

With racing now less than a month away, starting on the 22nd August for the third and final Preliminary Regatta, the Regatta Director has now posted both the Sailing Instructions and the pairings for each day of racing.

Fans of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup will be salivating at some interesting line-ups right from the off in the Preliminary Regatta with the stand-out pairing being an opening flight (or fight) between the America’s Cup Defenders, Emirates Team New Zealand and the beaten finalists from AC36, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

The Italian Challenger will also race twice on the opening day on the 22nd August, racing against the French Orient Express Racing in the final flight. Also of note will be a thrilling line-up on the first day of racing between the Challenger of Record, INEOS Britannia, and the hard-driving NYYC American Magic whilst the Swiss, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, will open the racing with a first flight against Orient Express Racing Team.

Depending on the conditions, the opening day of racing in the Preliminary Regatta may well offer some significant clues as to form and a first sight of the racing techniques and playbooks that each team have been honing over the last three years of preparation. Four days of non-stop racing with four flights per day will ensue and the one-race final will be contested between the top two ranked teams, with the top team getting the, arguably favoured, port tack entry on the start line. The winner of the final Preliminary Regatta will have endured some of the toughest racing anywhere on the planet with none of the teams wanting a poor performance and all of them eager to test out their race preparation ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cup that starts on the 29th August.

As we get into the Louis Vuitton Cup, everything gets deadly serious with the points counting and no team able to relax. The intention will be for races in the Double Round Robin to be approximately 23 minutes long with time limits of 12 minutes for the first leg and 45 minutes for the entire race applying. The opening day of the Louis Vuitton Cup will start with a thrilling match-up between Orient Express Racing and Alinghi Red Bull Racing whilst the Preliminary Regatta format will be mirrored with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli taking on Emirates Team New Zealand.

Remember the Kiwis, as Defenders of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, are automatically through to the Match in October where they will meet the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup and their participation will cease after the conclusion of the Double Round Robin format. The Louis Vuitton Cup Double Round Robin series is scheduled to run through to a conclusion on the 8th September with three reserve days pencilled in if required through to the 11th September and with one team eliminated, the top four Challengers will go through to the semi-final knock-out stage.

One interesting rule of note in the Preliminary Regatta Race instructions is that of Rule 7.1 where: “A boat has one delay card in the Final Preliminary Regatta that it may be used to delay the starting time of that boat’s next scheduled start by 5 minutes, except a boat may not use their card for a race that has already been delayed under this SI 7.1. A boat wishing to use their card shall inform the Regatta Director prior to the Warning signal. The Regatta Director will then delay the start time of that race by at least 5minutes.”

In the Louis Vuitton Cup and the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, this rule is amended with added time delay to read: “A boat has one delay card in each stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series that it may be used to delay the starting time of that boat’s next scheduled start by 15 minutes. A boat wishing to use their delay card shall inform the Regatta Director prior to the Warning signal. The Regatta Director will then delay the start time of that race by at least 15 minutes.”

With little room for error, all the teams competing in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup know that we are now at the business end of both the regatta and their campaigns. Thousands of hours have been spent in the pursuit of victory and although the Preliminary Regatta does not count towards ranking or points into the Louis Vuitton Cup, every team will be bringing their all to the regatta. When the Louis Vuitton Cup starts, there is simply no room for error but many commentators and sailors themselves are predicting one of the tightest battles ever in the 173 year history of the competition.

It's game on. Set the date – 22nd August. Barcelona is set to welcome the world and be the centre of sailboat racing. You can cut the tension and anticipation with a knife. Game on.

Full details available on the Official Noticeboard Here: ac37noticeboard.acofficials.org

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
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterV-DRY-XRooster 2025