America’s Cup 35 campaign started
I’ve been covering the America’s Cup for some time, but realize I forgot to say anything about the no 34 campaign because I was so busy with watching the thriller unfold when the Kiwi’s lost the cup to Oracle after they had build up a lead of 8-1 wins which Jimmy Spithill was able to claw back entirely to win 9-8. I’ve never seen such a comeback in sailing nor any other sport.
The rules for the 35st Cup have been negotiated by defender Oracle Team USA, via Golden Gate Yacht Club and Team Australia’s Hamilton Island Yacht Club, the Challenger of Record.
- A three year racing program from 2015 to 2017 with every race counting towards qualification and/or points in the final America’s Cup Match
- At least six America’s Cup World Series events per year in 2015 and 2016 to be raced in the AC45 class. All teams have an opportunity to host an event in their home country
- An America’s Cup Qualifiers series in 2017 involving all teams, with a bonus point in the America’s Cup Match at stake
- America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs for the top four challenger teams to emerge from the Qualifiers
- The America’s Cup Match, featuring the defender, ORACLE TEAM USA against the top challenger. The first team to win 7 points will win the America’s Cup
AC 62
The cup match itself will be sailed in a new AC62 yacht – a foiling, wing sail catamaran sailed by 8 crew – to be raced in all events in 2017
Apart from Team Australia, a British (Ben Ainsley Racing or BAR) and an Italian team (Luna Rossa Challenge) have come forward as challengers. I hope at the end of the entry period, which is open from June 9 through August 8, 2014. I really hope we will be seeing a Dutch Challenger as we see a Dutch entry for the coming Volvo Ocean Race.