America’s Cup: Run, Walk, and Sit

With racing for the America’s Cup teams to begin April 2020, the curtains are now pulled on what the new breed of AC75 yacht will look like with recent launches by the kiwi defender and an American challenger. Here are updates from September 11:

Running already: American Magic (above) has quietly launched their boat and found confidence yesterday to let her rip on Narragansett Bay, becoming the first team to go for a sail and lift their AC75 clear of the water.

Walk before run: Team New Zealand had their new America’s Cup boat out on the water on today, testing rigging and sail systems. After its launch five days earlier, the kiwis had to endure inclement weather before able today to raise the rig and sails and begin the de-bugging process. While a building breeze brought the boat back early to the base, the forecasted winds for later this week are more moderate to possibly allow the team to see how their steed sails.

Additional updates:
• INEOS Team UK (GBR): Reports are that additional dredging is needed around their base to activate their AC75.
• Luna Rossa (ITA): This team has never been too chatty and they aren’t now about their status.
• Stars & Stripes Team USA (USA): This team was hugely chatty when they got underway but have been strangely quiet ever since. If they don’t make some noise soon their only accomplishment will have been to help fund the defender through entry and design fees.

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. This deadline coincides with the venue schedule which has the construction of their team base beginning in late 2019, which we assume was done in the event the team is unable to fulfill their payment deadline.

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

AC75 launch dates:
September 6 – Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Boat 1
September 10 – American Magic (USA), Boat 1; actual launch date earlier but not released

Details: www.americascup.com