The America's Cup is finally getting down to sporting action. After a long dry spell, defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the five challengers meet for the first test of strength on their AC40 yachts a year before the 37th America's Cup. Although the results have no influence on the upcoming battle for the most important trophy in international sailing, the regatta will bring the sailors back into the game for the first time since the last New Zealand victory on 17 March 2021.
All six Cup teams on the starting line
While the teams continue to build their new AC75 Cup yachts, the AC40 training and test yachts created by the Cup defenders from Emirates Team New Zealand, which will also be used in the Youth America's Cup and the Puig Women's America's Cup 2024 with German participation, will serve as the race boats of choice in the first prelude in Vilanova i la Geltrú.
All six Cup teams are challenged: the Grant Dalton-orchestrated defenders from Emirates Team New Zealand, Sir Ben Ainslie's British team Ineos Britannia, Patrizio Bertelli's tireless Italian Cup chasers from Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, American Magic from New York Yacht Club, the Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing and the youngest team in the ambitious Cup fleet: Orient Express Racing Team, driven by German-Frenchman Stéphane Kandler, which is bringing "Bleu Blanc Rouge" back into play.
The decision is made in the match race duel
The regatta will primarily provide information on which sailing teams currently have the best command of the smaller One Designs and who can qualify and prevail for the match race final after eight fleet races over three days. Only the two best teams will go through to the knockout duel on Sunday (17 September). Only one match race will decide the winner. All races will be broadcast live from 15 to 17 September between 3.30 and 5.30 pm via America's Cup Homepage transferred.
Quite a few of the required sailors have only just returned from the third SailGP regatta of the fourth season in Saint-Tropez. First and foremost, Sir Ben Ainslie and his Brits are likely to have brought a real boost of motivation with them to Vilanova i la Geltrú with their first SailGP regatta victory in two and a half years. Sir Ainslie will share the helmsman position with his Olympic Finn successor and compatriot Giles Scott. The four-time Olympic champion also emphasised his team's goal ahead of the sporting kick-off to his third Cup campaign under the British flag: "Our priority is clear: it's about putting the fastest boat in the water in August 2024."
After a long time and intensive months, a milestone is about to be reached" (Peter Burling)
New Zealand's Cup defenders Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and their Kiwis will head to the America's Cup pre-regatta with thoughts of redemption. They were in Saint-Tropez narrowly escaped disaster when their wing rig exploded The New Zealanders were tied on points with the Danish leaders. Tied on points behind the Danish leaders, the New Zealanders were subsequently unable to contest the second and final SailGP day. The fact that they still finished eighth was due to the brilliant performance of the previous day, which many observers expect from the Kiwis for the Cup opener in Spain.
Peter Burling, America's Cup defender and helmsman for Emirates Team New Zealand, said before the start of the pre-regatta in Vilanova i la Geltrú: "When you think about it, after a long time and intense months, a milestone is about to be reached. If you look at the fleet, it's certainly the strongest line-up we've seen for a long time. The opportunities to sail against each other are quite limited overall. In this respect, they are of critical importance for the development of the sailing teams. The dedication with which all the teams have prepared for this regatta shows that."
One David against five Goliaths: France's Orient Express Racing Team chases the establishment
For France's Orient Express Race Team with Quentin Delapierre's crew, the pre-regatta offers a chance to work their way up the Cup competition after finishing sixth in the SailGP home race off Saint-Tropez. The "Davids" want to show that they are on a par with the Goliaths in the America's Cup in terms of sailing and can quickly get up to speed.
Skipper Quentin Delapierre said in Spain: "We are really looking forward to our first official America's Cup competition. It's been a steep learning curve for us over the last few weeks, but we're feeling more comfortable on our new AC40 every day and are looking forward to getting out on the water with the other teams and doing some racing."
If you can beat other teams on One Designs several times in a row, it brings mental strength to a team" (Tom Slingsby)
Patrizio Bertelli's Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is also looking forward to what is expected to be close racing in the new AC40 One Designs. Helmsman Francesco Bruni said at the last press conference before the first starting signal on Friday: "The AC40s are beautiful boats that will continue to provide sailing with great regattas in the future. They are great boats to develop our skills as a sailing team."
Superstar Tom Slingsby, who is racing for American Magic, also commented on the sporting value of the first pre-regatta. Given that this regatta is not yet being held on the AC75 Cup boats, it still offers potential gains: "If you can beat other teams on One Designs several times in a row, it brings mental strength to a team."
Proud Swiss back on course for the Cup
The Swiss team Alinghi is also fighting for this mental strength as it returns to Cup action for the first time after two Cup victories in 2003 and 2007, a defeat in the unequal foundation certificate duel against BMW Oracle Racing in 2010 and a long break. Helmsman Arnaud Psarofaghis said: "We are very proud to be back as a Swiss team."
33-year-old trimmer Bryan Mettraux, brother of sailor and Ocean Race participant Justine Mettraux, explained on the last day of training before the pre-regatta: "Like every time we take part in a race, the aim is to win! But the first regatta of this America's Cup cycle is also about gaining experience. My personal goal is to take my head out of the boat as often as possible and communicate well. That's what will make the difference."
Behind the scenes, the tug-of-war over the US participation in the second pre-regatta in Jeddah continues
While everything is ready on the stage in Vilanova i la Geltrú for the races on the long weekend in September, the tug-of-war over the Americans' participation in the second pre-regatta in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia continues behind the scenes. The US challengers still have safety concerns and are demanding far-reaching guarantees from the organisers. A US application to the America's Cup arbitration tribunal for exemption from the participation requirement was initially rejected in the spring of this year.
In Spain, the question of whether the Americans will take part in the second pre-regatta from 30 November to 3 December in Jeddah is now boiling over again. "I don't think our team has made a decision yet. But I have every confidence that they will make the right decision," said American Magic's helmsman Tom Slingsby cautiously on Thursday. The second pre-regatta in Jeddah will also be held on AC40 yachts, while the third pre-regatta next year will be contested with the teams' new AC75 boats.
