America’s Cup: Stuff with Sirena

by Duncan Johnstone, Stuff.co.nz
Auckland, New Zealand (October 12, 2020) – Team New Zealand’s latest capsize is no surprise to challenger Luna Rossa whose skipper Max Sirena predicts every team will end on their side at some stage during this America’s Cup campaign.

The defenders came unstuck while training in high winds in Auckland at the weekend, suffering steering damage to Te Aihe which had to be towed back to their base.

Team New Zealand survived unscathed from a softer capsize in lighter conditions last December.

Challenger American Magic tipped over their first boat Defiant in Auckland last month after a mistake in strong winds in the same stretch of water the Kiwis came unstuck last Saturday, one of five courses that will be used for Cup racing from December through to March.

“It’s obviously something you don’t want to happen, but we know it’s going to happen and it will happen again,” Sirena told Stuff.

“As long as everyone is nice and safe, it’s fine.

“We know these boats are edgy in some of the conditions if you make a mistake or not, and we need to be prepared for that.

“The boats are almost self-righting so it’s just a matter to try to avoid that, but it will happen to everyone.”

Proud Italian Sirena, involved in the Cup scene since 2000 and helping win the Auld Mug with Oracle in 2010 and Team New Zealand in 2017, knows the competitive instincts required for success.

Luna Rossa and INEOS Team UK have managed to avoid capsizes in their AC75s but the stakes are rising as teams push their development to find the boundaries of these radical boats that are starting to foil through the 50 knots mark.

With all four teams now in Auckland, there’s sure to be an added edge to training in coming weeks as teams get set to launch their second AC75s and tune them up for the racing calendar that kicks off with the world series regatta on December 17-20.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli had more of their team join their Auckland base today after exiting quarantine, and they now number 95 with “a few more” being cleared to bolster their numbers further next week.

The Italian challenger of record have taken charge of their second boat after it was flown to Auckland last week and are going through the final stages of fitting it out.

Sirena likes what he sees and said they plan to launch it around October 20. Full report.

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