#AmericasCup - The protocol of the 36th America’s Cup was released yesterday (Thursday 28 September) at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron after “focused and friendly” negotiations between the defending cupholders and the Challenger of Record, Circolo della Vela Sicilia.
With the return to monohulls confirmed earlier this month, it was announced that the AC75 Class will be a 75ft-high performance monohull governed by the AC75 Class Rule which will be published by 31 March 2018, with initial concepts of the class being released to key stakeholders by the end of November this year.
Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton also confirmed that PRADA has secured the exclusive naming and event sponsor rights for the 36th America’s Cup — including the Challenger Selection Series, which will officially be named The PRADA Cup.
The dates and venue of both the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup will be announced by 31 August 2018. The intended venue is Auckland, New Zealand, with the Match to be raced in March 2021, preceded by The Prada Cup in January and February 2021.
A series of preliminary regattas will be raced internationally in 2019 and 2020 in the AC75 Class boats, culminating with a Christmas regatta in December 2020 for all competitors.
Each competitor is permitted to build two boats, the hulls of which must be laminated in the country of the competitor. The first boat is not permitted to be launched prior to 31 March 2019; the second can be launched after 1 February 2020.
The rules stipulate that no two-boat testing will be allowed, except by the defender and only during the period of racing in The PRADA Cup, as they will play no part in this stage of the competition.
Race management will be entirely independent of the event organisation, led by the regatta director. The umpires and jury that will manage all on the water rules and disputes for all events.
An independent measurement committee will manage the measurement process in accordance with the forthcoming AC75 Class Rule. An arbitration panel will oversee and deal with all protocol disputes with published decisions to maintain the integrity of the event.
The challenger of record will organise the PRADA Cup and the defender will organise the America’s Cup Match while co-operating with regards to commercial issues such as sponsorship and broadcast rights for the 36th America’s Cup as a whole.
An increased emphasis has also been placed in the rules around the nationality of the sailing crews when racing, following proposals first made in December 2013.
Twenty per cent, or three crew, whichever is higher, must be ‘true nationals’ (ie citizens) of the competing yacht club. The remainder of the crew can be made up of residents of the challenging yacht club’s country defined by being physically present in that country for a minimum of 380 days over a two-year period between September 2018 and 31 August 2020.
Key dates for 35th America’s Cup
- 30 November 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
- 1 January 2018: Entries for challengers open
- 31 March 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
- 30 June 2018: Entries for challengers close
- 31 August 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed; specific race course area confirmed
- 31 December 2018: Late entries deadline
- 31 March 2019: Boat 1 can be launched
- 1 June-31 December 2019: Two America’s Cup World Series preliminary events will take place within the second half of 2019; three more will follow in 2020
- 1 February 2020: Boat 2 can be launched
- 10-20 December 2020: America’s Cup Christmas Race
- January-February 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
- March 2021: The America’s Cup Match
Download the Protocol, Deed of Gift and key points.
