Prada Cup: For all the marbles

The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series is now for all the marbles as INEOS Team UK face Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli for the right to face the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup.

With American Magic eliminated in the semi finals, this final stage is a best of thirteen race series beginning February 13 where the first team to reach seven wins (or have the most wins at the end of the series) will win the Prada Cup trophy and earn their entry in the 36th Match.

Two races per day are scheduled during the Prada Cup, with the race window now an hour later between 4:00pm – 6:00pm NZT.

The racecourse will be a windward-leeward configuration outlined by boundaries with an upwind start and its length (approximately between 1.1 to 2.2 nm) will depend upon the exact location of the course and prevailing weather conditions.

The permitted wind range was intended to be adjusted for the Final, with the low end still at 6.5 knots but the upper end increased from 21 knots to 23 knots. However, it has been decided to leave the current upper wind limit at 21 knots for the Prada Cup Final and the Match and not increase it to 23 knots as originally specified in the Race Conditions.

Factoring into course length are the time limits in which Leg 1 must be completed in 12 minutes and the entire race can not exceed 45 minutes.

The course on which the teams will sail, will be decided every racing day by the Race Management and detailed information for on-water spectating will be available on americascup.com.

All dates and times are for Auckland, New Zealand. To convert to your timezone, click here.

UPDATE: Due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Auckland on February 14, the schedule below has been updated. Be certain to check your local broadcast provider for any changes.

HOW TO WATCH:
• Details on watching the races, click here.
• Current standings, click here.
• Specific viewing options in the USA, click here.
• The Cup Experience, a pre-race show hosted by Tucker Thompson and Jack Griffin, will be on Facebook and YouTube one hour before the start time on every race day.

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