Ainslie’s advice: Don’t rob Jimmy Spithill

America’s Cup challenging skipper Ben Ainslie had not offered too much detail about when he was robbed prior to racing in Barcelona, but was now more forthcoming to British publication The Guardian:

“I was walking back with my wife and father-in-law from dinner,” Ainslie says. “It was around 9.30 on a busy street near where we’re living. These four guys had tracked us and went past us and did a 180-degree turn and came back. The one guy grabbed my arm and tried to take my watch. I grabbed his arm to stop him. We were having a tussle and then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw another guy pull a knife out and come towards me.

“I let it go and they got the watch. But they caught me at a bad time. I’d had a difficult conversation with someone so I was in a pretty bad mood. After these guys split up, I knew which one had the watch and so I chased him. It was not the guy with a knife. He was long gone. The guy with the watch was running and I ran after him for about a kilometre.”

The 47-year-old Ainslie, a ruthless and brilliant yachtsman who won gold medals at four successive Olympic Games between 2000 and 2012, laughs dryly when I ask if he was closing in on the much younger mugger. “No. I was cursing my lack of fitness at this point, but that’s probably a good thing. I don’t think it would have been a good idea to have caught him.”

We pause to consider the grisly scenario of facing another knife and then, in a nifty tack, Ainslie cracks a joke: “They’re lucky they didn’t try that on Jimmy Spithill. He would probably have floored them all.” – Full report

Viewing details – Race information – Results – 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