All teams now at America’s Cup venue

It was a condition of the Protocol for the 37th America’s Cup that no Competitor could sail either an AC75 Yacht or an AC40 Yacht from 1 July 2023 to 31 October 2023 except at the Match Venue in Barcelona, Spain.

Aside from the exception of the Preliminary Regatta held during this period outside the Match Venue, this training condition was motivation enough for all five teams to now be based in Barcelona.

The latest and last to arrive was Emirates Team New Zealand, the Defenders of the America’s Cup, which splashed their AC75 on the waters off Barcelona on July 14, just days after the shore crew arrived in the city themselves.

A welcoming southwest to south-south west sea breeze of 13-17 knots greeted the sailors with a sunny 86°+ F temperature – conditions that are a far cry from the wet, windy, and cold Auckland that the team has been used to in recent weeks.

“This is a very important step for the team, we’re really excited to be in Barcelona and to have hit the water, raised the sails and jumped up on the foils,” commented Emirates Team New Zealand COO Kevin Shoebridge. “It was just over a year ago that Barcelona was named as the 37th Americas Cup venue, and just over a month or so ago we were sailing in Auckland.”

Skipper Peter Burling added, “Much has been made of the Barcelona conditions and swell so it was good to get a first taste of the water where we will battle out the next Americas Cup. We have plenty to learn and a range of different conditions to get out into and experience plus how we need to change the way we sail the boat or how we configure things.”

Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, 2021, the AC75 Class Rule and AC Technical Regulations were finalized on March 17, 2022. The entry period opened December 1, 2021 and runs until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup may be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender was to announce the Match Venue on September 17, 2021 but postponed the venue reveal, confirming it would be Barcelona on March 30, 2022. The 37th America’s Cup will be held in September/October 2024.

Teams revealed to challenge defender Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
• INEOS Britannia (GBR)
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI)
• Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA)
• NYYC American Magic (USA)
• Orient Express Racing Team (FRA)

Preliminary Regattas
September 14-17, 2023 (AC40) – Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
November 30-December 3 (AC40) – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August 2024 (AC75) – Barcelona, Spain

Additionally, 12 teams will compete in the 2024 Youth & Women’s America’s Cup.

Noticeboard: https://ac37noticeboard.acofficials.org/
Additional details: www.americascup.com/en/home

Source: TNZ