How to watch the America’s Cup

After attempts to host racing in 2019 and 2020 for the America’s Cup teams were cancelled due to delays and disease, the four AC75s will officially line-up for America’s Cup World Series Auckland and the Christmas Race (December 17-20, 2020 in New Zealand; December 16-19 in North America).

With the PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series still a month away, this is not yet do or die time for the teams from Great Britain, Italy, and USA, but the challengers are dying to know how good they are. Expect them to push hard.

If the Kiwi team had one mandate for this America’s Cup, it was to ensure the greatest audience ever, but with the New Zealand border still closed due to COVID-19, the broadcast will be vital. However, if history is our guide, expect nothing and prepare for change.

The event website explains how to watch on screens, with the American Magic team telling U.S. viewers they can choose to watch America’s Cup racing on television via the NBC Sports Network, streaming on www.nbcsports.com (with cable subscription), or streaming via the NBC Sports Gold America’s Cup Pass.

For U.S. cord-cutters, access appears to require paying the $174.99 USD fee for the pass. To help soften the blow, American Magic and NBC Sports have a Discount Code (AM10) for the NBC Sport Gold America’s Cup Pass subscription. To use, click here.

Will the broadcast also be free on Facebook and/or YouTube? Unlikely for U.S. viewers. If NBC paid a fee for broadcast rights, expect them to be the sole source for live viewing with perhaps delayed highlight footage on social media.

Racing is scheduled for 1500 – 1800 each day weather permitting, but with an 18 hour time difference between Auckland and New York City, the first race of the day on December 17 will be at 9:00pm EST on December 16. To determine other time differences, click here.

Race details: https://www.americascup.com/en/acws/auckland

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) – WITHDRAWN
• DutchSail (NED) – WITHDRAWN

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, 2019 – Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Boat 1
September 10, 2019 – American Magic (USA), Boat 1; actual launch date earlier but not released
October 2, 2019 – Luna Rossa (ITA), Boat 1
October 4, 2019 – INEOS Team UK (GBR), Boat 1
October 16, 2020 – American Magic (USA), Boat 2
October 17, 2020 – INEOS Team UK (GBR), Boat 2
October 20, 2020 – Luna Rossa (ITA), Boat 2
November 19, 2020 – Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Boat 2

Details: www.americascup.com