Game time for Youth America’s Cup

Barcelona, Spain (September 16, 2024) – It was 11 years ago in 2013 when Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and Andy Maloney, key afterguard members today of the Defenders of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, won the inaugural Youth America’s Cup.

The event continues as twelve teams will vie for the 2024 title to be held September 17-26.

The format begins with the twelve teams split into two groups of six for an initial fleet race series. The sailors representing the official America’s Cup teams will race in one group whilst invited teams from Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden will race in a second fleet.

The top three teams from each side after eight races will race together in four fleet races to decide the top-two crews and from there it’s a one-race, winner-takes-all on September 26. That final race will take place in-between races on the first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final.

One of the favorites for overall victory are the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team whose skipper, Marco Gradoni, was port helm for the senior team when they competed in the second Preliminary Regatta in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, finishing runners-up behind Emirates Team New Zealand.

“The past is the past and I really want to focus on the present,” noted Gradoni. “We just have to keep focused, we learned a lot and we push a lot ourselves to be here and prepared, so we just want to go out sailing and do our best.

“I think the racing is completely different from training so everybody among us is going to push more and it’s amazing because if we have a lot of breeze it’s going to be really tight at the start and the mark roundings. We are prepared for this, and we just want to go out and put our skills on the water.”

Harry Melges IV, from the NYYC American Magic team and very much a rising figurehead for high-performance foiling, spoke about the lasting positive impact of the Youth America’s Cup and the rise of foiling as an exciting discipline in the sport.

“What first attracted me to sailing was the speed of the boat and sailing fast, fun boats. I think the foiling generation is going to speak to a lot more young sailors and get them really excited about going sailing – which I think is only going to be a positive.”

Viewing details – Race information – Weather forecast

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 was from December 1, 2021 until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup could be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender was to announce the Match Venue on September 17, 2021 but postponed the reveal, finally confirming Barcelona on March 30, 2022. The 37th America’s Cup begins October 12, 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)

2023-24 Preliminary Regattas
September 14-17, 2023 (AC40): Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
November 30-December 2 (AC40): Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August 22-25, 2024 (AC75): Barcelona, Spain

2024 Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series*
August 29-September 9: Double Round Robin
September 14-19: Semi Finals (Best of 9)
September 26-October 7: Finals (Best of 13)

*Team New Zealand competes in the round robin stage only, but the results of their races were not included in the challenger leaderboard.

2024 America’s Cup
October 12-27: 37th Match (Best of 13)

For competition details, click here.

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

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

Source: ACE