The 2027 America's Cup is the 38th staging of the America's Cup yacht race. It is the oldest continuous competition in international sport, and among the world's most prestigious sporting trophies. 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 Yacht Squadron is the Challenger of Record for a second consecutive America's Cup.[2][3]
Defender  New Zealand | |
|---|---|
| Defender club: |  Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron |
| Yacht: | TBD |
| Challenger | |
| Yacht: | TBD |
| Competition | |
| Location: | TBD |
| Dates: | TBD |
| Winner: | TBD |
| Score: | TBD |
← 2024 39th → | |
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.[4] As of 19 October 2024, a total of 37 cup matches have been held. With 25 victories, the New York Yacht Club has won the most titles.
The 37th match from 12 to 19 October 2024 was the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's eighth America's Cup match and their fifth America's Cup victory, winning in 1995, 2000, 2017, 2021 and 2024 (losing in 2003, 2007 and 2013) - making it the second most successful club in the competition's history. RNZYS has appeared in every America's Cup match since their first appearance in 1995 (apart from 2010).
Terms of Challenge
editBackground
editThe 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]
Rules for issuing challenge
editTerms of RYS 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,[5] 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]
On 8 November 2024, RNZYS and RYS released a statement that: the AC75 class will be retained however the next Cup will not be until 2027 and the rule is launching a restriction on the sailing of AC75 yachts for 12 months - along with a cap on sailing days of AC75s. It is not yet certain how this would work for new teams who need sailing time in existing AC75s. Development of LEQ12s is also prohibited however, development can take place on AC40s which remains "in class". The defender and challenger of record are investigating the possibility of imposing cost and carbon "caps".[6]
Nationality Rules
editIn the statement released 8 November, there were no real changes to nationality rules.[6]
Venue
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 satisfied 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. The venue is to be announced by the Defender within eight months of the final race of the AC37 Match and a Protocol also published as soon as practicable within that period and a protocol will follow.[6]
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]
It is intended that the AC38 Match be held within three years of the completion of the AC37 Match subject to any adjustments needed for the hemisphere in which it is to be sailed.[6]
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
editThe statement dated 8 November seemed to convey an interest in increasing the number of preliminary regattas aiming to provide more regular racing during the AC38 cycle with a mixture of AC40 & AC75 racing, in both fleet and match racing formats.[6]
Qualifying Event
editAC38 will be a multi-challenger event and having lodged the first challenge the Royal Yacht Squadron has been appointed the role of Challenger of Record.[6]
Cup 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 | 10 | 11 | 13 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates Team New Zealand
|
|||||||||||||
|
Youth & Women's Americas Cup
editAccording to the 8 November statement both RNZYS and RYS are committed to building on the success of the AC37 Women's and Youth America's Cup events.[6]
Background
editTeams
editReferences
edit- ^ "Explaining the Challenger of Record Concept >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. 30 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d "British confirmed as Challenger of Record for 38th America's Cup: but what next for the Cup?". Yachting World. 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "10 Oldest Sports Trophies in the World". 7 January 2019.
- ^ "RNZYS accept Notice of Challenge for the 37th America's Cup". 19 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "America's Cup: Surprise announcement by Defender and Challenger of Record". Sail World. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ "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