Opener confirmed for America’s Cup World Series

Published on July 13th, 2019

The date for the first America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) regatta of the 36th America’s Cup cycle has been confirmed to take place April 23-26, 2020 in Cagliari, Sardinia. The four-day regatta will be the first ever competition for the AC75 Class foiling monohulls to be used in the 2021 match.

The teams expected to compete are the America’s Cup Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, Challenger of Record (COR) Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA), INEOS Team UK (GBR), American Magic (USA), and Stars + Stripes Team USA.

“Sardinia has a well-established reputation as a premiere yacht racing venue,” said Vasco Vascotto (ITA) on behalf of the COR. “That’s one of the reasons we chose the island as the base for our challenge for the 36th America’s Cup. We are looking forward to welcoming the other teams and the America’s Cup World Series fans for what should be a spectacular opening event.”

Representing the Defender of the America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Shoebridge (NZL) highlighted the importance of the ACWS event in Sardinia for all the teams.

“Like all regattas there will be teams that come away satisfied and those that don’t,” Shoebridge said. “The significant thing about this regatta is that it will give a very clear idea of where each of the teams are in their designs and preparations for the main events in 2021.

“However, with only eight months between Sardinia and the start of the Prada Cup and 10 months until the America’s Cup Match, it gives very little time to make necessary changes for teams to make sure they are up to speed.”

Editor’s note: While the Protocol calls for additional ACWS events in 2020, this is the only event revealed at this time.

Source: America’s Cup Event Limited

In addition to Challenges from Italy, USA, and Great Britain that were accepted during the initial entry period (January 1 to June 30, 2018), eight additional Notices of Challenge were received by the late entry deadline on November 30, 2018. Of those eight submittals, entries from Malta, USA, and the Netherlands were also accepted. Here’s the list:

Defender:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)

Challengers:
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger of Record
• American Magic (USA)
• INEOS Team UK (GBR)
• Malta Altus Challenge (MLT) – WITHDRAW
• Stars & Stripes Team USA (USA)
• DutchSail (NED) – WITHDRAW

Of the three late entries, only Stars+Stripes USA remains committed, but they still must complete the entry fee payment process before they will be eligible to race. They have already paid their initial payment but as a late entry challenger under the Protocol they also have a liability to pay a US$1million late entry fee due in installments by October 1, 2019.

Key America’s Cup dates:
✔ September 28, 2017: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
✔ November 30, 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
✔ January 1, 2018: Entries for Challengers open
✔ March 31, 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
✔ June 30, 2018: Entries for Challengers close
✔ August 31, 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed
✔ August 31, 2018: Specific race course area confirmed
✔ November 30, 2018: Late entries deadline
✔ March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ 2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series events (CANCELLED)
October 1, 2019: US$1million late entry fee deadline
February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched
April 23-26, 2020: First America’s Cup World Series event in Cagliari, Sardinia.
During 2020: 3 x America’s Cup World Series events
December 10-20, 2020: America’s Cup Christmas Race
January and February 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
March 2021: The America’s Cup Match