Finally an agreement has been reached by the Defender and Challenger of Record for the next America’s Cup… and it’s revolutionary in many ways The much delayed Protocol for the 38th America\u2019s Cup has \u2013 finally \u2013 been agreed and signed, and there are some radical changes within it for both the racing and the structure of the America\u2019s Cup. Plus, potentially some promising hints for the British team.
\nThis Protocol is long overdue, and the past few months have seen publicly played out disagreements between ETNZ, headed by Grant Dalton, the Challenger of Record, represented by Ben Ainslie, and the other potential teams (Alinghi, New York Yacht Club, the French, and Italians), that have been vehement and, at times, a bit ugly to watch.
\nEven until late last week I was still receiving messages from those closely involved suggesting that the 38th America\u2019s Cup could yet become a \u2018Deed of Gift\u2019 match \u2013 or in other words, that the Protocol could fail, and the Cup go back to a two team match. There have clearly been some emergency summits held among the key players with Ainslie, Dalton, and Bertie Bickett of the Royal Yacht Squadron hinting that it had been a fairly torrid 72 hours.
\nSo today\u2019s news is something of a relief, and positive step, though it\u2019s worth noting that until the final \u2018Partnership\u2019 agreement (more on that below) is signed in September, this could yet all become null and void. Such is the way of the America\u2019s Cup\u2026
\nCup cyclors replaced with batteries
\nSome of the most visible changes will be in the crew used to sail the AC75 for the 38th America\u2019s Cup. Teams must sail either their existing AC75 from the 37th Cup, or build one to an existing design.
\nThe boats will race with a crew of five, one of which will be a female sailor. However, the four cyclors are to be replaced with a new battery power system.
\nThere are no \u2018surrogate\u2019 boats allowed this time around, such as the LEQ12 designs some teams built in the last cycle, and were heavily used in the design and testing of elements such as power cycles. The addition of batteries also removes the number of athletes on board, and adds a \u2018push button\u2019 element, similar to the AC40s in the last Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup and Youth America\u2019s Cup.
\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t a decision taken lightly regarding the cyclors and the athleticism of sailing these boats and the effort that those guys put in,\u201d Sir Ben Ainslie \u2013 the head of Athena Racing, the official Challenger of Record \u2013 told Yachting World this morning. \u201cBut we had to make some difficult decisions regarding cost caps and moving forward. That\u2019s a tough call.\u201d
\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t actually change the sailing of the boat,\u201d Grant Dalton added. \u201cI think the key to it is not to just create unlimited power because, really, you might as well carry around a power station. It\u2019s to mimic \u2013 and I think this won\u2019t be very hard \u2013 the peaks and troughs of the power of an average [AC]75 from the last America\u2019s Cup and produce that.\u201d
\nPeter Burling \u2013 who left Team New Zealand and joined Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli \u2013 will be eligible to compete for the Italian team
\nNationality and Non-compete agreement
\nThe nationality rule was known to be a huge sticking point in the negotiations for the new Protocol. For AC38 the female sailor and at least two other crew members must be of the same nationality as the yacht club they represent.
\nThe other big shift in this updated Protocol is the removal of a \u2018non-compete\u2019 clause which would have banned sailors who competed in one team from competing in another, which was a point known to be a big bone of contention among some teams.
\nWidely referred to as the \u2018Burling clause\u2019 after New Zealand three-times winning helmsman Peter Burling did not re-sign with Emirates Team New Zealand but instead moved to Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, a lot of focus has been on whether Burling could sail for the Italians. In this morning\u2019s media call, Grant Dalton confirmed that he now could.
\nAfter an announcement earlier this year Naples is now confirmed as the 38th America\u2019s Cup venue.
\n38th America\u2019s Cup venue
\nThe 38th America\u2019s Cup is still due to be held in Napes, Italy, in 2027. The racing cycle for the 38th Cup will include up to three Preliminary regattas \u2013 potentially two as soon as next year in AC40s, before a Preliminary Regatta in AC75s in Naples.
\nThere will also be more racing scheduled, including fleet racing for the AC75s as part of the Challenger Series.
\nA cost cap of \u00a375million is to be imposed \u2013 though Dalton acknowledged that would be tricky to fairly implement for teams such as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, who are already up and running, with staff employed.
\nEntry opens soon, with just a 28 day window, and a \u20ac7million entry fee. Ainslie said that they are expecting most of the AC37 teams to enter. \u201cI think we\u2019re looking at five, maybe six teams for this next cycle.
\nGrant Dalton added: \u201cWhether there is any further \u2013 if there is, they\u2019re going to come out of Italy. I think that would be fair to say. So there could be an extra one, not sure yet.\u201d
\n\u2018Fundamentally reshaped\u2019 America\u2019s Cup
\nHowever, the biggest structural change to the America\u2019s Cup baked into this Protocol is the formation of a new Partnership Agreement, in which all currently involved teams have agreed a new commercial structure for the America\u2019s Cup.
\nThe idea is to give the event \u2013 which has historically been largely subject to the whims of its current holder \u2013 a firmer timetable. Going forward the Cup should have a two-year cycle giving teams more security when it comes to sourcing sponsors, planning campaigns etc. A new board will make key decisions such as class rule, agreeing venues etc, following an Formula One type model.
\nThere\u2019s no getting away from the fact this is controversial. The America\u2019s Cup is the oldest sporting trophy in the world, and the Deed of Gift is one of its most unique elements. But it has also struggled to maintain momentum between cycles, and often ended up with protracted legal battles to get events off the ground. At one stage, it looked as if the 38th Cup could go the same way.
\nIn this morning\u2019s announcement, Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton said: \u201cAs the three-time successive winner and Defender of the America\u2019s Cup and along with the RNZYS as current Trustee, we feel the responsibility to continue to drive the growth of the America\u2019s Cup event.
\n\u201cAlthough the America\u2019s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport and the pinnacle of sailing, its Achilles\u2019 heel has always been its lack of continuity, so this transformation now gives all teams collective stewardship, and we are introducing a new executive management team to be headed up by a new independent CEO.
\n\u201cBy negotiating this Protocol and the America\u2019s Cup Partnership with the Challenger of Record, it provides certainty for teams, commercial partners, and event venues to invest for multiple editions. This is the boldest change in 174 years of the Cup, while respecting the Deed of Gift, along with the Challenger of Record we are confident this is the best initiative to grow what is already one of the greatest sporting events in the world.\u201d
\nNew York Yacht Club Commodore Jay Cross said: \u201cAs the founding Trustee of the America\u2019s Cup, we are completely supportive of the move to modernise the oldest sporting trophy in the world.\u201d
\n\u201cThis is a seismic moment for the America\u2019s Cup,\u201d said Ainslie. \u201cThe partnership agreement fundamentally reshapes the governance and organisation of the event. The teams and yacht clubs share a vision to make the America\u2019s Cup more inclusive, compelling, and financially sustainable. This new model marks a unified commitment to that vision. I am excited for the future of the sport.\u201d
\nSo will this partnership agreement actually go through? There does seem to be \u2013 on the surface at least \u2013 more agreement on the fundmental principles of this, than on some of the details that were driving the AC38 disputes.
\nGrant Dalton explained that there is more to it than appears in the Protocol. \u201cYou\u2019re not seeing really the key document that actually has been signed \u2013 and you\u2019re not going to be able to see it either, which is the term sheet,\u201d he told invited media this morning.
\n\u201cWhich sets out the transitional period and the transitional rules of the defender handing over basically the keys to the city, the Crown jewels, \u00a0handing over all that. That is the key document. The rest of [the agreement], I have every confidence [will be signed], because it\u2019s well done.\u201d
\nBoth of the AC75s used on the 2024 America\u2019s Cup are likely to return, although the British boat will be renamed. Photo: America\u2019s Cup
\nHope for British America\u2019s Cup team?
\nFor British Cup fans, the signing of the Protocol by the Royal Yacht Squadron as Challenger of Record, represented by Ben Ainslie\u2019s Athena Racing, is obviously a very good sign. Since the loss of sponsorship by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, there have been major concerns about the viability of the British America\u2019s Cup Challenge.
\nWhile Ainslie did not speak about the funding of his own team, he did drop a few hints that could be interpreted encouragingly. The first being that, while he confirmed that the AC75 hull they used in the 37th America\u2019s Cup to win the Louis Vuitton Cup will race again, it would be under a different name, suggesting a title sponsorship deal may be in place.
\n\u201cThe boat that\u2019s Athena Racing\u2019s boat is not going to be called Britannia,\u201d he said in today\u2019s media call.
\nWhile talking about the importance of having female athletes in the America\u2019s Cup, he added: \u201cWe have funding in place for our youth and women\u2019s team right now, for the whole programme. I think it just goes to show how much support there is out there across the sailing community to push this agenda.\u201d
\nThere\u2019s lots more to unpick from this morning\u2019s announcement, and we\u2019ll follow up with further details as we have them.
\nDownload a full copy of the new America\u2019s Cup Protocol.<\/p>\n
If you enjoyed this\u2026.<\/p>\n
Yachting World is the world\u2019s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams.<\/p>\n
Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.<\/p>\n
Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/p>\n
The post America\u2019s Cup overhauled: Women sailors, battery power, fleet racing and more in new Protocol. Plus hope for Brits? appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Finally an agreement has been reached by the Defender and Challenger of Record for the next America’s Cup… and it’s revolutionary in many ways The much delayed Protocol for the 38th America\u2019s Cup has \u2013 finally \u2013 been agreed and … <\/p>\n