America’s Cup: October Roll Call

As the Auckland temperatures begin to warm up, so will the activity as the four America’s Cup teams prepare for their one and only practice (but mandatory) regatta on December 17-20.

In the next two months, the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, and Challengers Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, New York Yacht Club American Magic, and INEOS Team UK will all be launching their second AC75 and the full focus will be getting them ready to race. Here is where the four teams are now:

United States:
NYYC American Magic was the first Challenger to settle in New Zealand. They have been training consistently in Auckland on DEFIANT – their first AC75 – since late June and flew their second AC75, PATRIOT on the 9th of September from Providence (USA).

On the morning of the 5th of October, PATRIOT was wheeled out of the team shed to sound of the competitors spy cameras clicking furiously, becoming the first second generation AC75 to see the light of day.

Commissioning could take a matter of days or weeks, but one thing appears likely, NYYC American Magic are likely to be first boat 2 to sail on the Hauraki Gulf.

Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and Executive Director of NYYC American Magic is confident they made the right call when decided to get earlier to New Zealand: “One thing that’s been great about our time in Auckland is the added intensity that comes with having the Defender just across the basin. They are the holders of the Cup, and they co-created the class rule, so they set the standard.

“Operating in close proximity has given us a few good insights and upped our focus level day-to-day compared to operating alone in North America. I think the two other Challengers will experience a similar dynamic.”

Great Britain:
On the 1st of October it was the turn of RB2 (the code name for INEOS Team UK’s boat 2) to land down under. Flown onboard an Antonov cargo plane, the AC75 is now at the Brits new base on the Auckland’s Viaduct and will require minimal remaining fit out, allowing the team to get it out on the water quickly. As confirmed by INEOS TEAM UK’s Skipper Ben Ainslie, team work has been of the essence in order to keep up with the schedule.

“As a Challenger you’re always playing catch up on the race boat design from the Defender who gets to define the rules. That’s the game we chose to compete in, so we had to give ourselves maximum design and build time in the UK, which meant the Antonov was the only transport option. It’s testament to the huge effort by the whole team to get RB2 built and delivered to New Zealand on schedule. We can’t wait to get her out sailing!”

Italy:
The Challenger of Record Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is the final team to set up in Auckland. Although most of the Italian team is already in town, their second race boat left the boatyard in Northern Italy at the end of September and landed in Auckland, New Zealand on the 5th of October and transferred to their Viaduct Base under the cover of darkness with the aim of being launched later in the month.

Max Sirena, Skipper & Team Director of the Italian syndicate is ready to get back at work: “We have finally been released from quarantine, definitely a new experience. It feels good to be back to Auckland which is a bit of a second home to me and my family after years with Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand in the last Cup. We can’t wait to be out on the water in the Hauraki Gulf!”

New Zealand:
No clue has been given by the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand on when they’ll launch their second AC75, but they are taking every opportunity to keep pushing their testing programme on Te Aihe. “The days are really counting down fast now, and every hour we can get on the water just helps us learn more and more.” said Glenn Ashby.

“And we are basically stepping into what is the most exciting time of the whole campaign as we start to see each of the teams second AC75’s which will be their race boats. While there is still a lot of time for development, a big chunk of the AC36 puzzle is about to be put in place.”

Source: America’s Cup

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 (CANCELLED)
• 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