America’s Cup: Changing roles in defense

Team New Zealand have confirmed Peter Burling will be their skipper for the 2021 America’s Cup. Burling was a helmsman with the team who reclaimed the title in Bermuda last year. Burling would take on the new role which was held by Glenn Ashby in Bermuda.

“It’s really exciting times for the team and, yeah, we have [signed him] – he is going to be the skipper,” said Team New Zealand’s Ray Davies. “We’re looking forward to rebuilding from what we had in Bermuda. We’ve got to take it to another level again, and we’re very excited about the sailing team we have.”

Ashby will be returning for the 2021 campaign, though his role with the team was still to be defined. Davies said more than half of the 2017 team had been signed for the 2021 campaign, but with the regatta still a way away they weren’t in a position to hire a full sailing squad yet.

“We’ve got a few key guys that are helping with the design and we’ll build on that as it comes closer to the time,” said Davies
.
Compared to the AC50’s six crew members, the AC75 carries 11 crew with a maximum crew weight averaged out at 90kgs per sailor.

“Every team’s just going to pick the best sailors available,” notes technical director Dan Bernasconi. “Whether that’s a guy or a girl, I think we’re just going to take the best people.”

The teams will spend the next 12 months designing and developing their vessels with the earliest date teams are allowed to launch April 1, 2019.

Source:
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/sailing/burling-skipper-team-nz-2021
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12035834

Key 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
December 31, 2018: Late entries deadline
March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched
2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched
During 2020: 3 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary 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

Protocol of the 36th America’s Cup
Key Points of the Protocol
Deed of Gift
AC75 Class Rule (v1.0)