The America's Cup is a yacht racing competition. It is the oldest continuous competition in international sport, and among the world's most prestigious sporting trophies.
Defender  New Zealand | |
|---|---|
| Defender club: |  Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron |
| Yacht: | TBD |
Challenger  United Kingdom | |
| Challenger club: |  Royal Yacht Squadron |
| Yacht: | TBD |
| Competition | |
| Location: | TBD |
| Dates: | TBD |
| Winner: | TBD |
| Score: | TBD |
← 2024 39th → | |
The 38th America's Cup will be raced in a match-race series between a yacht sailed by Emirates Team New Zealand representing the defender Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and a yacht representing the challenging yacht club. The challenging yacht club will either be the one which is first to issue a valid challenge to the defending club under the Deed of Gift of the America's Cup and becomes a sole challenger, or the one which wins a Challenger Series organised by the first valid challenger, which is called 'the Challenger of Record'.[1]
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is again the defender of the America's Cup after its yacht Taihoro, owned and sailed by the Emirates Team New Zealand syndicate, was the successful defender in the 37th America's Cup, beating the challenger Ineos Team UK, representing the Royal Yacht Squadron, 7–2 in a first-to-seven series raced from 12 to 19 October 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
Soon after Taihoro achieved its seventh win in the 37th America's Cup, ETNZ Chief Operating Officer Kevin Shoebridge confirmed that a challenge had been accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Ineos Team UK Britannia skipper and team boss Ben Ainslie later confirmed that the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes had indeed challenged the 38th America’s Cup and their Challenge had been accepted. Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd. is now the Challenger of Record for a second consecutive America's Cup.[2][3]
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was founded in 1871 as the Auckland Yacht Club and took its current name in 1902 after receiving a warrant in the name of King Edward VII.[4]
History
editThe America's Cup is a highly prestigious event, being the oldest continuous competition in international sport, and the fourth oldest continuous sporting trophy of any kind.[5] As of 19 October 2024, a total of 37 cup matches have been held. With 25 matches, the New York Yacht Club has won the most titles so far.
The 37th match from 12 to 19 October 2024 was the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's fifth America's Cup victory, following its wins in 1995, 2000, 2017, 2021 and 2024 - making it the second most successful club in the competition's history.
Terms of Challenge
editBackground
editRules for issuing challenge
editTerms of Challenge
editPlanned Yacht Class
editRoyal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron agreed in the challenge after the 36th America's Cup that the AC75 foiling monohull class developed would be used for the 2024 America's Cup, they also want the AC75 class to be used for the 38th America's Cup,[6] perhaps with a slightly modified rule involving less automation in exchange for more sailors doing sailing roles, possibly making space for a crew role reserved for female or youth sailors.[2]
Nationality Rules
editVenue
editSpeculation has centred around Jeddah in Saudi Arabia or Valencia in Spain or Auckland, which hosted three times in total, 30th, 31st and 37th editions respectively. Notion of returning to Barcelona was once conjectured, but was ultimately rejected by both Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton and council of the Catalan capital. Dalton mentioned the difficulties for further expansion of participating teams under available infrastructure within the city port.[7] City council was satsified enough with the unique event in 37th edition due to enormous economical and promotional impacts.[8]
Of the previous 37 cup matches, 33 have been held in the defender's home waters. The Deed of Gift provides for the defender to name the venue if they and the Challenger of Record cannot reach agreement.
Dates
editTeam New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton planned to make the competition more commercially viable, indicating that he favored 2026, one year earlier than expected for quick turnaround and use of the hard assets that the six current teams in possession: AC40, AC75, hydrogen chase boats, simulators and gym equipment.[9] Meanwhile it will be more beneficial to retain the respective sailing talents.
The Deed of Gift requires the match to be held in summer or summer-shoulder months. In the southern hemisphere, this is defined as between 1 November and 30 April. In the northern hemisphere, it is defined as between 1 May and 31 October.[10]
Teams
editThe Royal Yacht Squadron is the Challenger of Record for the 38th America's Cup.[2] Their team, INEOS Britannia, previously lost to Emirates Team New Zealand 7-2 in the 2024 match, beating Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the 2024 Louis Vuitton Cup final by 7-4.
| Team | Yacht Club | Skipper | AC75 Name | Shipyard | Unveiled | Launched | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates Team New Zealand
Defender |
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
|
Peter Burling
|
Team New Zealand | ||||
| INEOS Britannia
Challenger of Record |
 Royal Yacht Squadron
|
Sir Ben Ainslie
|
|||||
Preliminary Regattas
editQualifying Event
editCup Match
editThe America's Cup match will be a best of 13 race series to be held between the Emirates Team New Zealand syndicate representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and the winner of the qualifying event.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates Team New Zealand
|
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|
References
edit- ^ "Explaining the Challenger of Record Concept >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. 30 July 2014.
- ^ a b c "British confirmed as Challenger of Record for 38th America's Cup: but what next for the Cup?". Yachting World. 20 October 2024.
- ^ "America's Cup: Team NZ confirm challenge has been accepted for 38th edition after triumph in Barcelona". New Zealand Herald. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "The Squadron".
- ^ "10 Oldest Sports Trophies in the World". 7 January 2019.
- ^ "RNZYS accept Notice of Challenge for the 37th America's Cup". 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Barcelona will not host next edition of America's Cup". Catalan News. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "El no precipitat a la Copa de l'Amèrica descol·loca els agents econòmics". La Vanguardia (in Catalan). 24 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Where to Next with America's Cup 38". Yachting World. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Deed of Gift[1]".
External links
edit- Americascup.com, the official website of the competition