Confirmation of AC38 venue by June 2025

The Kiwis beat Britannia to retain the Auld Mug in the Cup’s 37th match in Barcelona in October, becoming the first team in the modern era to win the trophy three times in a row. As expected, the British team, representing the Royal Yacht Squadron, was accepted as the challenger of record by Team NZ and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

The two syndicates have outlined the first details of the protocols for the Cup’s 38th cycle, with Auckland, Valencia and the Middle East in the mix to stage its next edition by 2027. The most intriguing aspect will be which city is confirmed as hosts after Barcelona held this year’s two-month regatta. The Spanish city’s hosting was considered a success, but it’s not expected to bid again.

One of the first points agreed between Team NZ and the Brits, who will represent all challengers, was an intention to confirm a venue within eight months of Barcelona’s racing, which ended on October 20 (NZ time) when the Kiwis defeated Britannia 7-2.

That set timeframe for an announcement by next June will have intensified the preparations for each bid. Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton said that Auckland was an option, despite the messy fallout following the city’s hosting in 2021.

Dalton had already indicated that more teams and more events could be introduced, as well as budget and carbon caps, and preliminary regattas could be held as soon as next year with the main event potentially in 2026.

Other significant details agreed between Team NZ and the British team for the 38th Cup included:

• The intention to stage the next Cup match within three years of the Barcelona decider and to confirm a venue within eight months;
• The retention of the AC75 yacht class (75ft foiling monohull) for a third generation, with teams restricted to building one new version;
• The existing nationality rules that require sailors to have a passport for the country they’re representing, with the provisions for emerging nations to be reviewed;
• No sailing of AC75 yachts in the 12 months after Barcelona, unless participating in any preliminary regatta;
• A limit of sailing days in the AC75s will be introduced, although any new team will be granted dispensation;
• Develop the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup events.

Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton says the next America’s Cup should feature more teams and more events. The preliminary regattas could also feature the half-scale AC40 boats, or the AC75s, in either fleet or match racing.

Ahead of Barcelona, the AC40s were sailed in the preliminary regattas and were used by teams in the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup and the returning Youth America’s Cup. Barcelona’s premier event featured Team NZ and five teams, Britannia, Luna Rossa, American Magic, Alinghi and Orient Express, who are all expected to challenge again.

The Cup syndicates also had boats in the women’s and youth events, which featured another six invitational teams from Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Spain, although it’s not yet clear whether they’ll be involved again.

Source: stuff.co.nz