Details of the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup have been released with a 12-team competition set to take place in Barcelona 2024Two of the most eye-catching announcements that were made while we were awaiting the 37th America\u2019s Cup protocol (finally released in late 2021) were plans to relaunch the Youth America\u2019s Cup and the creation of a Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup for the first time.
\nBoth of these events, it was announced, would also be contested on a brand new AC40 training foiler class. Now, finally, details of those two major pathway regattas have been released.
\nBoth the Women\u2019s and Youth America\u2019s Cup regattas will be contested between 12 teams, split into two pools of six for an initial fleet racing series. The first pool will be comprised of the teams entered and competing in the America\u2019s Cup.<\/p>\n
As all teams will be required to purchase an AC40 in order to compete in two preliminary events ahead of the America\u2019s Cup itself, it is a no-brainer for all teams to commit to entering a team for both regattas, but it is encouraging that all teams entered into the 37th America\u2019s Cup have supported the plans so far.
\nThe second pool will be formed by any independent yacht club entries that qualify to enter under the 37th America\u2019s Cup Protocol. Significantly, these teams will be required to fulfil the nationality requirements of America\u2019s Cup teams themselves, meaning 100% of the crew sailing each yacht in each race must be nationals of the country of the yacht club that the team represents.<\/p>\n
America\u2019s Cup teams will also be required to supply the AC40s for the Youth and Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup racing for both their in-house teams and the independent yacht club teams, so purchase of an AC40 will not be a requirement for entry to the Youth or Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup.
\nA shared shore and technical support team will be provided by the organisers to facilitate cost savings and to ensure consistency across the fleet.
\nHowever, as is the case in SailGP, there will be special dispensation for \u2019emerging nations\u2019. The event format announcement states that: \u2018a team may be considered to be from an \u2018Emerging Nation\u2019 or be eligible to receive a dispensation from the crew nationality requirements to allow a specific number of approved non-nationals to compete as crew onboard the AC40.\u2019
\nNo word yet, though, on the criteria under which an \u2019emerging nation\u2019 is defined, nor the number of non-nationals any team may be able to have onboard.
\nThe Land Rover BAR team were crowned 2017 Red Bull Youth America\u2019s Cup Champions last time the event took place. Photo: Land Rover BAR
\nBoth pools will race a series of 6-9 fleet races with the top three teams from each pool progressing to the final series. A final series of 3-4 fleet races will decide the top two teams, who then go on to compete in a single match-race final to determine the overall winners of each event.
\nThe racing is due to take place in the 37th America\u2019s Cup venue in Barcelona, Spain and racing is scheduled to take place around the America\u2019s Cup racing, with much of the competition running alongside the Challenger Selection Series and some of the final events overlapping the America\u2019s Cup itself.
\nThe Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup is likely to take the prime spot, with the Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup Final Match Race being held on a race day of the America\u2019s Cup Match itself.
\nThis could go some way to addressing concerns that the women\u2019s series in a \u2018scaled down\u2019 version of the America\u2019s Cup class, is being given the same billing as a youth event.
\nOrganisers have the stated aim to provide maximum exposure for the sailors competing in both events and provide fans on the ground with more on-the-water action to watch.
\nThe French team, Groupama Team Frace took part in the 2017 America\u2019s Cup and are rumoured to return for 2024. Photo: ACEA
\nFrench America\u2019s Cup entry all but confirmed?
\nFor months now there have been rumours of a French entry to the 37th America\u2019s Cup, which is expected to be officially announced imminently. And it seems this Youth and Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup announcement all but confirms the rumour.
\nTo date there are five official entries in the 37th America\u2019s Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand (Defender), INEOS Britannia (Challenger of Record), Alinghi Red Bull Racing, American Magic, and Luna Rossa.
\nHowever, in this latest press release detailing the plans of the Youth and Women\u2019s AC regattas it states that: \u2018Racing will be in a fleet of six one design AC40s supplied by the America\u2019s Cup teams.\u2018 It also states within the details about the number of Youth and Women\u2019s entrants in pools \u2018a\u2019 and \u2018b\u2019 that: \u2018if more Cup teams are confirmed not only will Cup participants [pool a] increase but so will pool b participants\u2019
\nIt would seem, then, that there are currently six entrants known or confirmed to the organisers for the 37th America\u2019s Cup, even if only five have publicly announced their entry.<\/p>\n
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The post Details of Youth and Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup released appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Details of the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup have been released with a 12-team competition set to take place in Barcelona 2024Two of the most eye-catching announcements that were made while we were awaiting the 37th America\u2019s Cup protocol (finally … <\/p>\n