America’s Cup: Waiting game for Italians
Published on September 1st, 2020
Until the racing begins, the 36th America’s Cup will be known for disruption. Understanding the new class of boat, the delay in provided parts which then delayed the launching of boats, the cancellation of training time and regattas due to COVID-19 … it’s all been very disruptive.
Even logistics are difficult, as New Zealand is on the opposite of the world for the three challengers. Feeling that pain now is the Luna Rossa sailing team which will be off the water as they transition from their home base in Cagliari to the racing venue of Auckland.
Having completed their training period in Italian waters on August 28, the team now begins the transfer to Auckland, loading Boat 1 onto a cargo ship that will take about two months to arrive in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the team’s second AC75 is still being finalized and is not set to leave the Persico Marine shipyard until early October. From there, it will be loaded onto an Antonov cargo aircraft with the intent to be ready to sail in the Gulf of Hauraki in New Zealand by the end of October.
So the Italians have no AC75 training for two months while USA challenger American Magic is in Auckland on Boat 1 and watching the tracker as their second boat boarded an Antonov on August 31 for its flight to the Kiwi venue.
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• Malta Altus Challenge (MLT) – WITHDRAWN
• Stars + Stripes Team USA (USA)
• DutchSail (NED) – WITHDRAWN
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