The first America’s Cup preliminary regatta raced in AC40s will take place in September 2023 in the Catalonian port of Vilanova i la Geltr\u00faINEOS Britannia and Orient Express Racing Team training in their AC40sThe six competing teams in the 37th America\u2019s Cup are set to get their first chance to line up competitively against one another at the first America\u2019s Cup Preliminary Regatta, from 14-17 September 2023.
\nThe event, which sees the America\u2019s Cup teams move 50km up the coast to Vilanova i La Geltr\u00fa from the main event base in Barcelona, includes four days of racing in the AC40 one-design foiling monohull.
\nRacing begins with official practise on Thursday 14 September, followed by three fleet races on 15 and 16 September, and then two further fleet races on the Sunday before a single match race final. Coverage will be live-streamed via americascup.com as well on The America\u2019s Cup YouTube channel.
\nThe AC40s lined up to test the tech ahead of the Preliminary Regatta, but are yet to officially race. Photo: Ugo Fonoll\u00e1\/America\u2019s Cup
\nAs it is held in the supplied AC40s, rather than the America\u2019s Cup final designs of the AC75, the Preliminary Regatta will have little direct bearing on the Cup match proper, which takes place 11 months later. However, it is a good opportunity for the teams to bank some foiling race practice, and perhaps glean some indications of whose preparation schedules have been the most fruitful so far.
\nAs with any one-design fleet, the AC40s will put a premium on boat handling, so the one thing the Preliminary Regatta will give some indication of is clues to the sailing teams\u2019 preparation level.
\n\u201cAll the teams are looking forward to lining up in the AC40 against other teams because it\u2019ll give us a good read and a good yardstick on just how our sailors are doing in terms of their technique and the sharpness of their racing skills. It\u2019ll also give us some good feedback on some of the things that we think are fast about the way you sail an AC40; everything from bustle clearance to sail trim. We\u2019ll get a chance to measure those things when AC40s line up against other AC40s,\u201d explains Jeff Causey, INEOS Britannia\u2019s boat operations manager.
\nJimmy Spithill explained that even within the one-design there will be variations in set up: \u201cThe hardware is exactly the same as the others, and it really comes down to the teams using the controls: cant, ride height, the trim of the boat. Obviously sails and technique, there\u2019s a lot of little things there.\u201d
\nHowever, INEOS Britannia\u2019s Leigh McMillan cautioned: \u201cWe\u2019re certainly going to put some more time in the AC40s. But the Cup itself, and designing and having a fast boat for the America\u2019s Cup, has got to be our absolute goal. It\u2019s not all about the AC40 for now!\u201d
\nHow do the America\u2019s Cup teams stack up?
\nPhoto: Job Vermeulen\/America\u2019s Cup
\nEmirates Team New Zealand (NZL)
\nThe Defenders moved their team from New Zealand to Barcelona this July. Nathan Outteridge and Pete Burling have been taking the dual helms of their AC75 and two AC40s. The Kiwis have performed consistently in the Practice Racing in Barcelona with a tight-knit team that trust in their process.
\nPhoto: Ugo Fonoll\u00e1\/America\u2019s Cup
\nINEOS Britannia (GBR)
\nThe British squad moved from their winter training base in Palma, and have been trialing a T6 test boat and AC40. Giles Scott is sailing team manager for skipper Ben Ainslie. But it has not been the strongest display from the team in practise racing so far, with execution of manouvers in the AC40 looking less than polished.
\nPhoto: Alex Carabi\/America\u2019s Cup
\nAlinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI)
\nVilanova Preliminary Regatta will be the first time Ernesto Bertarelli\u2019s famous Swiss team takes part in an America\u2019s Cup race since 2010, now skippered by Hans- Peter Steinacher. Combined helms, Arnaud Psarofaghis and Maxime Bachelin have formed a dynamic partnership, rooted in steady progression, and Alinghi Red Bull Racing have surprised to the upside in the practice regattas.
\nPhoto: Paul Todd\/America\u2019s Cup
\nAmerican Magic (USA)
\nAustralian Tom Slingsby and Brit Paul Goodison are among the sailing squad headliners. The US team has secured some of the highest number of hours in the AC40s thanks to a two-boat programme. They chose to sit out the first few days of the recent practice regatta, preferring to complete their aero and foil testing schedule, but when they came to the racecourse, they were sensational and already look ones to beat in the one-design class.
\nPhoto: Ivo Rovira\/America\u2019s Cup
\nLuna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA)
\nJimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni return on the twin wheels of the Italian AC40, though Spithill cautioned they have had less time racing against other boats than some other teams. However, Luna Rossa have been unafraid to ride very different modes to the others and at times have shown unbelievable boatspeed.
\nPhoto: Martin Keruzore\/OERT
\nOrient Express Team (FRA)
\nThe newest team on the block, the French squad were flying on their first AC40 test sail after launching mid-August, skipper Quentin Delapierre crediting the time they put in on the simulator. Whether they can challenge for the title in Vilanova is a tall ask with so little time in the AC40 compared to the more established teams but they should put up a good fight.
\nAmerica\u2019s Cup Preliminary Regatta schedule
\nThe format of the Regatta will consist of up to 8 fleet races followed by a single Match Race Final between the two highest scoring Competitors in the fleet racing.
\nRacing will take place on:<\/p>\n
Thursday 14 September Official Practice
\nFriday 15 September Race Day 1 \u2013 3 Fleet Races
\nSaturday 16 September Race Day 2 \u2013 3 Fleet Races
\nSunday 17 September Race Day 3 \u2013 2 Fleet Races, Match Race Final (1 race).<\/p>\n
Racing is scheduled to be between 1530 and 1730 hours each day, though this can be changed if conditions so require.
\nIn preparation for the first preliminary regatta Vilanova i la Geltr\u00fa in just 1 month\u2019s time, four teams lined up for the first AC40 races to help test the new RMS and broadcast systems. Photo: Ugo Fonoll\u00e1 \/ America\u2019s Cup
\nHow to watch the America\u2019s Cup preliminary regatta
\nThe America\u2019s Cup races will be live-streamed across the official America\u2019s Cup website: www.americascup.com as well as available to watch on YouTube in most territories.
\nThis may not be available in territories where broadcast rights have been sold, but as yet there is no information available about broadcast deals, so it is safe to assume most territories will have Youtube access to racing.
\nThe America\u2019s Cup Social Media channels on Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter) will also be fully activated and updated throughout the racing with a mix of multi-media. Daily race reports will be available on the America\u2019s Cup website after racing.
\nYou can also follow all of our coverage on Yachting World\u2019s America\u2019s Cup mini site.
\nFor those wishing to watch in Barcelona, the America\u2019s Cup Race Village will offer spectators the chance to experience the unique buzz and atmosphere of the regattas off the water.
\nThe Race Villages free throughout all America\u2019s Cup events, with large maxi screens to view the racing action live with commentary plus event and team activations alongside an array of food and beverage stations.
\nThe Race Village in Vilanova i La Geltr\u00fa, will open at 11:00 daily and run through to 20:00 with live racing between 15:00 to 17:30 and sailor presentations and interviews after the racing each day.
\nWhen is the next America\u2019s Cup preliminary regatta?
\nAfter this first America\u2019s Cup Preliminary regatta, teams head to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for a second regatta between 29th November to 2nd December 2023. The third and last preliminary regatta will be held in August 2024 in Barcelona.
\nAs with the first event, the regatta in Saudi Arabia will have racing in AC40s, but the final preliminary event in 2024 will see all the America\u2019s Cup teams race in their new AC75s for the very first time.<\/p>\n
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The first America’s Cup preliminary regatta raced in AC40s will take place in September 2023 in the Catalonian port of Vilanova i la Geltr\u00faINEOS Britannia and Orient Express Racing Team training in their AC40sThe six competing teams in the 37th … <\/p>\n