America's Cup preliminary races: When are they? What's the format and schedule? Which teams are competing?
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ByEurosport
Updated 30/11/2023 at 12:13 GMT
When are the 37th America's Cup preliminary races? What's the preliminary race format and schedule? Which teams are competing in the America's Cup? The competition is already into its second round of preliminary regattas, as teams start their bid to win the America's Cup. Emirates New Zealand are the current defending champions. We run through all you need to know about the event.
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The road to the 37th America’s Cup is well underway with the second of three preliminary regattas taking place in Saudi Arabia.
Having been first contested in 1851, the America's Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport.
Emirates Team New Zealand are the defending champions after winning in 2021, but will they lift the trophy again next year?
We run through all you need to know ahead of the preliminary races.
What is the America’s Cup?
The America’s Cup is an international sailing competition that has usually been held every three to four years.
This year the preliminary stage is featuring six teams, with the main event taking place in Barcelona from August 2024.
What are the America's Cup preliminary races?
The 37th America’s Cup has begun, with preliminary regattas in Vilanova i la Geltru, Spain (September 14-17), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (November 29-December 2), and Barcelona, Spain (August 2024).
These regattas are warm-up matches for the competition getting underway next summer.
The preliminary regattas feature racing across four days to decide which top two teams who will contest the match race final. The first two regattas are raced in strict one-design AC40 boats while the third regatta will see all teams race in AC75 boats.
Each AC40 teams will consist of four sailors with two helms steering from the forward ‘pod’ and two crew members responsible for sail and foil trim sitting in the aft pods. The AC75 boats will have eight sailors.
The preliminary regattas have no bearing on the result of the America's Cup, but provide a look at the form of the boats and the approach of the different teams.
NYCC American Magic went into the final day of September's racing in Spain fifth in the standings, but stunned the rest of the fleet to take victory in the overall results by just one point ahead of reigning America's Cup champions Emirates Team New Zealand.
Ineos Britannia, spearheaded by four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie, got their campaign off to a slow start by finishing bottom overall.
"That was amazing, we put it together and yeah we got the result," said NYYC American Magic's Tom Slingsby after the last day of racing.
"We sailed well, a couple of little mistakes but when we made those mistakes it wasn’t in too critical a time so we were able to get three good results and then lead into that final race and with the wind, it was nice knowing that you were leading going into that one.
"After being in fifth place last night, going into today and getting a 2-1-1 and taking the win, that’s amazing. The champagne was very nice.”
What is the preliminary race schedule?
Racing in Vilanova i la Geltru is done and dusted, but there are three days of racing underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to wrap up the year.
The first day on November 29 was for official practice.
The schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, November 30: First day of racing
- Saturday, December 1: Second day of racing
- Sunday, December 2: Third and final day of racing
Racing will start at 10.30am UK time each day.
How does the America's Cup work?
After the preliminary events it’s onto the Challenger Selection Series.
This is where the America’s Cup kicks into gear as five teams compete against each other in a series of one-on-one match races to see who will earn the right to meet defending champions Emirates New Zealand in the America’s Cup match.
The five challenging teams start by facing each other twice, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The winners of the semis reach the final, and the winner of the final advances to the 37th America’s Cup match against Emirates New Zealand.
The Challenger Selection Series will take place across summer in 2024, but dates are yet to be confirmed.
The America's Cup match featuring Emirates New Zealand and the winner of the Challenger Selection Series will start on October 12, 2024.
How does America’s Cup scoring work?
In the preliminary races each team will get points depending where they finish in each race.
The two top-scoring teams will advance to the final.
To decide the America's Cup next year, the winner of the Challenger Selection Series will meet Emirates New Zealand in a 13-race match.
The winner of each race scores one point, the other team scores zero points, and the first team to score seven points wins the cup.
What are the America’s Cup teams?
The six teams for this edition of the America’s Cup are:
- INEOS Britannia (UK)
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Switzerland)
- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Italy)
- American Magic New York Yacht (USA)
- Orient Express Racing Team (France)
- Emirates New Zealand (New Zealand)
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