The most successful Olympic sailor in sporting history is getting his third America's Cup opportunity under the British home flag: Sir Ben Ainslie and the Ineos Team UK - defeated 1:7 by the Italian "Luna Rossa" team in the challenger final of the 36th America's Cup - want to find out. With the role of "Challenger of Record", the British are taking on a decisive responsibility in the planning for the 37th America's Cup. According to the British press statement, the challenge was presented on 17 March on board the yacht "Imagine" by Bertie Bicket, Chairman of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and accepted by Aaron Young, Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
As is customary in modern times, the agreement was signed as the New Zealanders crossed the finish line for their fourth America's Cup victory after 1995, 2000 and 2017. This is the only way the defender and the pre-selected "Challenger of Record" can prevent another team from interfering with the defender's chosen playing partner for the next edition.
With the confirmation of their new role, the Brits also announced on Friday morning that they will continue to work with their title sponsor: "Ineos have confirmed that they will continue to support Sir Ben Ainslie's team to win the oldest trophy in sport and ensure the continuity that is a cornerstone of any successful America's Cup team." This is the first time since the Sir Thomas Lipton era between 1899 and 1930 that a British team has competed in the America's Cup three times in a row.
THE AC75 CLASS REMAINS
Team Principal Sir Ben Ainslie, who won the America's Cup in 2013 with Oracle Team USA but is keen to bring the silverware back to its country of origin and home, the UK, said: "Ineos Team UK is committed to working alongside Emirates Team New Zealand and our respective yacht clubs to further the development of this historic event." At the same time, the British confirmed the retention of the new futuristic foil monohulls: "The introduction of the AC75 class has proved to be a transformational moment in the history of the America's Cup and will be the cornerstone of a truly bright future."
The "marriage" between the New Zealanders and the British is an exciting project with a lot of potential. 170 years after the Cup première in 1851, the British are moving closer to their big dream of bringing the trophy back to their home country for the first time since their defeat at the time. The America's Cup has been contested for 45 years longer than medals at the modern Olympic Games. The last time a British challenger competed for the America's Cup was in 1964 with the twelve-metre yacht "Sovereign".
The challenging Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) is recognised as the most important yacht club in the UK. The world-famous clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the south-west of England. The club was founded as The Yacht Club on 1 June 1815 and its first German member was Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was later joined by Hans-Otto Schümann from Hamburg, the "father of German ocean sailing".
The Kiwis confirmed the new Challenger of Record at the same time as the British. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has received and confirmed the challenge from our long-time British friends the Royal Yacht Squadron," said Aaron Young. It was great to have the RYS back on board against the backdrop of presenting the trophy for the first time. However, the protocol eagerly awaited by other potential challengers with the key dates for the 37th America's Cup will be a long time coming. The defenders announced it for "the next eight months", i.e. for the period up to November 2021.
THE ONE-BOOT RULE IS COMING
It has already been made clear that the AC75 class will be retained. It is also stipulated that each team may only build one new AC75 for the upcoming edition. On the one hand, this saves costs, but already gives defenders and "Challengers of Record" enormous advantages over new challengers who may want to take part for the first time with an AC75 class boat. Also new in the planning: In the 37th America's Cup, only one organiser will be responsible for the staging of all races and the management of commercial activities. This is intended to avoid disputes such as those in the 36th America's Cup between the New Zealand defenders and the Italian "Challenger of Record" and to put the America's Cup on a more solid management footing. Further "cost-saving campaign packages" have been announced to encourage a higher number of challengers and the international development of new teams.
COMEBACK OF THE NATIONALITY RULE
A team's future Cup sailors must either have held the passport of the country they are competing for since 19 March or have been physically present in the country or have sailed for the country in the America's Cup for at least two out of three years prior to 18 March 2021. This is a tough rule because the dates after the end of today are in the past. Whoever thinks of the now limited opportunities for Cup greats such as Jimmy Spithill or other top players is a rogue. As an exception, so-called developing countries are to be granted discretionary powers by the organisers. The question remains as to which countries will be categorised as such with regard to the America's Cup. The announcement of the next venue is to be made by September 2021 at the latest.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
