America’s Cup: USA ready to let loose

Auckland, New Zealand (July 22, 2020) – After two weeks of isolation, American Magic CEO and skipper Terry Hutchinson soaked up the view and fresh air down at the America’s Cup hub after being cleared to leave his central Auckland isolation hotel today.

Hutchinson told 1 NEWS today that his two weeks in managed isolation were fine. “I would go as far as to say New Zealand should be proud of their representatives at these stations,” Hutchinson said. “They’ve treated us in the best way possible.”

But now that he’s out, Hutchinson – who sailed for Team NZ in 2007 off Valencia in Spain – is all about business. The Cup veteran is part of a group of frontline team members who have been through self-funded isolation, all up costing nearly $750,000.

American Magic’s boat arrived in Auckland three weeks ago after undergoing extensive trials back in the US. The team plan to continue that heavy workload with July 24 targeted for getting their fully-kitted out AC75 on the water.

Hutchinson told 1 NEWS his crew is “singularly focused on us” but joked if they happened to be on the water at the same time as Team New Zealand, they may push the boundaries.

“We’re not allowed to do any co-ordinated sailing against the defender,” he said. “[But if it’s uncoordinated], well, when you drive down the highway in your car and you see a fast car in front of you want go up next to it!”

Source: TVNZ

Details: www.americascup.com

36th America’s Cup
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, however, it is unclear what entry payments have been made, nor is there knowledge of a boat being actively built or sailing team assembled.

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 (NOT KNOWN)
✔ February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ April 23-26, 2020: First (1/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Cagliari, Sardinia (CANCELLED)
✔ June 4-7, 2020: Second (2/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Portsmouth, England (CANCELLED)
• December 17-20, 2020: Third (3/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Auckland, New Zealand
• January 15-February 22, 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
• March 6-15, 2021: The America’s Cup Match

Youth America’s Cup Competition
• February 18-23, 2021
• March 1-5, 2021
• March 8-12, 2021

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
October 2 – Luna Rossa (ITA), Boat 1
October 4 – INEOS Team UK (GBR), Boat 1

Details: www.americascup.com