America’s Cup: Crash, protest, forecast

With the three America’s Cup challenger teams preparing to begin their Selection Series on January 15 at 3:00pm NZT (Jan. 14 at 9pm EST), here are some recent updates:

• Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling has downplayed the dramatic capsize (see video) that cut short their practice race against British challenger INEOS Team UK. Burling lost control during a gybe in a high-speed downwind blast with the Brits, with the Kiwi boat Te Rehutai nose-diving and twisting on to its side on Monday (Jan. 11). – Full report

• America’s Cup challengers American Magic have warned that faults in onboard data systems threaten the credibility of racing on Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour and Hauraki Gulf. The Americans have told an America’s Cup arbitration panel that challengers have little confidence in the electronic race management system that provides vital information to crews on their boats. The system has been provided to competitors by event organisers, but every team encountered problems during the world series, reducing some races to uncompetitive affairs. – Full report

• A free online class from Marine Weather University on January 13 (6pm PST/9pm EST) will provide an understanding of the weather dynamics anticipated for the America’s Cup venue of Auckland, New Zealand. Hosted by two-time America’s Cup winning navigator Peter Isler, veteran meteorologist Chris Bedford, currently working in his tenth Cup as American Magic’s meteorologist, will provide insight into the weather-related challenges facing the crews racing the 75-foot foiling monohulls. – Details

For details on the racing, and how to watch it, click here.

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• Malta Altus Challenge (MLT) – WITHDRAWN
• Stars + Stripes Team USA (USA) – WITHDRAWN
• DutchSail (NED) – WITHDRAWN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