America's Cup 2024: Dates, schedule, participating boats, and where to watch it
All about the 2024 America's Cup Sailing
The 2024 America's Cup is preparing to transform Barcelona into an epicenter of sporting excitement and technological innovation. The Catalan city, already bustling with events during the summer, will host the world's oldest and most prestigious sailing competition, offering fans an unprecedented spectacle for approximately three months.
The Mediterranean waters will host the 2024 America's Cup and the futuristic AC75 boats , built using the most cutting-edge engineering solutions in the industry. In this article, we'll outline the schedule and dates of the 37th America's Cup , the complete program , the participating teams, and all the ways to continue following the event closely.
How does the America's Cup work?
The America's Cup , the oldest and most prestigious international sailing trophy , involves a series of regattas to determine the Defender 's challenger, the team that holds the trophy: in 2024 the team to beat is Emirates Team New Zealand .
The challenger, known as the Challenger , is selected through the Louis Vuitton Cup , a competition established in 1983 that elects the team that will compete against the reigning champions. For this reason, this cup is also known as the Challenger Selections Series .
This year, the Louis Vuitton Cup 2024 participants vying for the role of challenger are:
- INEOS Britannia;
- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli;
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing;
- NYYC American Magic;
- Orient Express Racing Team.
We will talk about it later, after having illustrated the calendar and programme of the 2024 America's Cup in more detail.
2024 America's Cup schedule: dates and start
The calendar of the 37th America's Cup is packed with events and is divided into different phases of the competition. The preparatory regattas , in which all the competing teams participate, were held between August 22nd and 25th .
The start of the Louis Vuitton Cup officially inaugurates the 2024 America's Cup . It begins with a group stage called the Round Robin , in which the five challengers compete in double-header matches ( from 29 August to 8 September 2024 ). Emirates Team New Zealand also participated in these regattas, but without competing for the rankings.
At the end of the Round Robin , the top four boats advance to the semifinals ( 14-19 September 2024 ), where the first-place team can choose their opponent. The semifinals are played as a best-of-nine race, with the winner of five races advancing to the next round.
The Louis Vuitton Cup final will take place from September 26th to October 7th and is a best-of-thirteen race series: the team that wins seven matches (scoring seven points) officially becomes the challenger to Emirates Team New Zealand.
The start of the America's Cup , the real final challenge that will determine the winner of the 37th edition, is scheduled for October 12, 2024 : the competition will last until the 21st of the month, with possible make-ups until October 27. In this case too, the challenge takes place over thirteen races and the final title will be won by the team that reaches seven points first.
America's Cup Barcelona 2024: Participating Teams
The hunt for Emirates Team New Zealand is officially on! Over the past few decades, the New Zealand team has become synonymous with victory in the modern America's Cup , with four victories to its name. Let's get to know the reigning champions better.
1. The Defender: Emirates Team New Zealand
Emirates Team New Zealand is the Defender of the 37th America's Cup and represents the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron . Considered one of the strongest teams in the history of the competition, it has won the America's Cup four times: in 1995 , 2000 , 2017 and 2021. In 2024, the team is aiming for a " three-peat ", meaning winning the competition three consecutive times.
The New Zealand team is synonymous with success, thanks to a combination of technological innovation and sailing prowess that has made it a benchmark in the sailing world. To find out the name of the team that will challenge the defending champions, we'll have to wait for the outcome of the Louis Vuitton Cup , where five contenders will face off. Here's who they are.
2. INEOS Britannia
INEOS Britannia is the Challenger of Record for the 2024 America's Cup , the team that first challenged the winners of last year's edition. The British team is partnering with Mercedes-AMG F1 Applied Science, the technology division of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team, with the ambitious goal of winning the America's Cup for the first time, a feat no British team has yet achieved.
Led by the financial backing of Jim Ratcliffe , recently acquired a minority shareholder in Manchester United, INEOS Britannia also benefits from the innovation and technological expertise derived from its experience in Formula 1, aiming to quickly close the gap on Emirates Team New Zealand.
3. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
When it comes to the Italian sailing boats competing in the 2024 America's Cup, all eyes will be on the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team. The Italian team, representing the Circolo della Vela Sicilia , is competing in its seventh America's Cup and is aiming for its first victory. After losing to Emirates Team New Zealand in the 2021 final, the team is determined to bounce back in the 2024 edition.
Luna Rossa's new AC75 yacht , unveiled at its Cagliari headquarters, is the result of an innovative project developed by a team of 40, who used 3,500 square meters of carbon fiber to build the hull. With a 26.5-meter mast and twin soft wings made primarily of Dyneema and carbon, using 3Di North Sails technology , Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli seeks to push the boundaries of technology, design, and aesthetics to leave an indelible mark on the world of sailing.
4. Alinghi Red Bull Racing
The Alinghi Red Bull Racing team represents Switzerland and is led by Ernesto Bertarelli , a leading figure in the world of international sailing. The Swiss team has already won the America's Cup twice, in 2003 and 2007, and in this edition they aim to replicate their previous successes.
For this new challenge, Alinghi has partnered with Red Bull Advanced Technologies , the engineering team that supported world champion Max Verstappen's Formula 1 dominance. This collaboration brings with it the innovation and know-how of cutting-edge automotive engineering, adding an additional level of competitiveness to the Swiss project.
5. NYYC American Magic
NYYC American Magic , the team representing the historic New York Yacht Club , is aiming to bring the America's Cup back to the United States, a trophy the club has held for over 130 years since its founding in 1851. In the last competition in 2021, the team suffered a severe blow due to significant damage to their boat, which halted their progress in favor of Luna Rossa.
For the 2024 America's Cup, the team has two AC75 boats , including the new " Patriot ", christened in May 2024. Patriot is named after the 2021 boat that nearly sank, and represents the team's hope of completing the mission that failed in the previous competition.
6. Orient Express Racing Team
The Orient Express Racing Team , a newcomer to the competition and representing the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez , is participating in the 2024 America's Cup, marking the return of France, which debuted in 1970. To compete on equal terms with the giants of sailing, the team benefits from an advanced technological package provided by Team New Zealand, allowing them to face the challenge with the best available technologies. Thanks to this constant commitment to innovation, the Orient Express Racing Team aims to bring France back to the top of the competition.
Boats used during the America's Cup Sailing Championship
The America's Cup has always been a showcase of innovation and cutting-edge technology in the world of sailing . The 2024 edition in Barcelona will be no exception, showcasing cutting-edge vessels, true masterpieces of naval design and engineering.
Since 2017, the competition has seen the return of monohulls , but in a modern and highly technological version. This year's competition will feature AC75 foiling boats, 20.7 meters long and with a 26.5-meter mast. These monohulls, with a total weight of 6.5 tons, can reach impressive speeds of up to 53 knots thanks to a revolutionary design and the use of foils, lateral wings that allow the boat to rise out of the water, reducing drag and increasing efficiency.
In addition to the AC75s , the teams will also be using AC40s in the America's Cup preliminary regattas and training sessions. These smaller, more maneuverable boats are 11.3 meters long and weigh 2 tons. These monohulls are also used in youth competitions and in the Puig Women's America's Cup , an important initiative to promote female participation in sailing.
Where is the 2024 America's Cup taking place?
The 2024 America's Cup will take place in Barcelona , with the competition village set up in the Port Vell area, the "old port" accessible free of charge to the public.
This is Barcelona's historic port, located near the city center and one of the main landmarks along the waterfront. Originally built for commercial purposes, over the years it has been transformed into a modern, multifunctional area, including cultural attractions, pedestrian areas, and leisure spaces.
During the event it will be possible to see up close the innovative AC75 boats used by the teams.
VISIT THE OFFICIAL AMERICA'S CUP WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
America's Cup 2024: Where to Watch It
The competition will be broadcast both on free-to-air and pay TV. Mediaset will provide live coverage, with Italia 1 and Canale 20 as the main channels. Sky Sport subscribers can follow the 2024 America's Cup in full. The races will also be available for streaming: free on Sportmediaset.it, and for Sky subscribers on Sky Go and Now TV.
A brief history of the America's Cup
The America's Cup , the oldest international sailing competition , was born in 1851. In that year the New York Yacht Club challenged the English, then considered unbeatable in regattas, and won the 100 Guineas Cup with the boat America , from which the competition takes its name.
In 1857, the trophy was officially renamed the America's Cup, and the first challenge under that name took place in 1870. For 132 years, the United States dominated unchallenged until 1983, when the Royal Perth Yacht Club 's Australia II ended their reign. In over 170 years, only four countries have won the cup: the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland, making this competition a truly exclusive, elite event, coveted yet inaccessible to many.
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