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Challenger of Record announced

INEOS TEAM UK has been confirmed as the Challenger of Record for the 37th America’s Cup.

19 March 2021

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Emirates Team New Zealand have confirmed that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) has accepted a Notice of Challenge for the 37th America’s Cup (AC37) from the Royal Yacht Squadron Racing, making INEOS TEAM UK the Challenger of Record for the 37th America’s Cup.

The news came following speculation that Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS TEAM UK were preparing to be the Challenger of Record for the next American Cup.

This will be the first time a British side will compete in an America’s Cup since 1851.

INEOS TEAM UK were in pursuit to challenge the 36th America’s Cup, held this year, facing Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the Prada Cup Final before losing the series at a score of 1–7.

Emirates Team New Zealand successfully defended the America’s Cup against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, the final score being 7–3.

“The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have received and accepted a challenge for the 37th America’s Cup from our long-standing British friends at Royal Yacht Squadron Racing,” said RNZYS Commodore, Aaron Young.

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“It is great to once again have the RYSR involved, given they were the first yacht club that presented this trophy over 170 years ago, which really started the legacy of the America’s Cup.

“Along with Emirates Team New Zealand, we look forward to working through the details of the next event with them. “

A protocol governing the AC37 is currently set to be published within eight months.

Some of these provisions include that the AC75, the vessel used in the 36th America’s Cup, will be the class of yacht for the next two America’s Cup cycles. Agreement to this will be a condition of entry.

Teams will be also restricted to “building only one new AC75 for the next event” while both the Defender and the Challenger of Record must develop and agree “a meaningful package of campaign cost reduction measures” to help attract a higher number of Challengers and establish new teams.

A new “Crew Nationality Rule” will also require 100 percent of a race crew to either be a passport holder of the country as of 19 March 2021 or to have been physically present in that country for two of the previous three years prior to 18 March 2021.

Exceptions to this rule include acting on behalf of a yacht club, such as Auckland ­– the venue of the AC36 Events, or if a crew is considered to be from an “emerging nation,” the latter allowing for a quota of non-nationals to join the race crew.

“The 37th America’s Cup effectively starts the moment the team crossed the finish line on Wednesday afternoon,” said Emirates Team New Zealand CEO, Grant Dalton.

“It is very exciting to have a new Challenger of Record to continue to build the scale of the America’s Cup globally. The AC75s and the unprecedented broadcast reach of the exciting racing from Auckland’s stunning Waitemata Harbour have really put Auckland, and the America’s Cup, at the forefront of international sport.”

It is currently intended that the Venue for the Match will be determined within six months. The official dates of racing are scheduled to announced by the release of the Protocol.

 

americascup.com

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