Rules of the game for the 37th America's Cup published: Like in "Drive to Survive": The camera eyes are getting closer

Defenders and Challengers of Record unveiled the new protocol and class rules for the 37th America's Cup in 2024 in a joint YouTube broadcast from Auckland and London (watch the replay here, please click!). The basic rules for the upcoming Cup summit have now been finalised. However, the venue remains open.

Following the second postponement of the announcement of the future Cup venue, the tug-of-war over the important venue is now to be resolved by 31 March 2022. "We were initially too ambitious with the deadline," admitted New Zealand team boss Grant Dalton. There is now a lot to clarify and the new postponement has become necessary. After the negotiations between his team and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron with the New Zealand government over the traditional staging of the event on their home turf have clearly been tough and unsatisfactory on several occasions and the chances of a defence in the Hauraki Gulf at home are "only slim" according to Dalton, new rumours have repeatedly surfaced in recent months about possible alternative venues such as Ireland, Valencia or Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. But a decision has yet to be made.

Nevertheless, Emirates Team New Zealand and Ineos Britannia presented other important key data for the 37th Cup edition on Tuesday evening, which they had previously negotiated with each other. New Zealand Team Principal Grant Dalton announced: "The America's Cup will maintain its unique position as the sporting world's oldest international trophy by embracing tradition while continuing to push the boundaries of innovation, technology, boat design, the event and TV broadcasts." Ineos Britannia's CEO, four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie, said: "We want to work with the defenders to make the next America's Cup less expensive and more inclusive. This is the opportunity for change: we will see a Women's America's Cup and again the Youth America's Cup."

Only one new building per team is permitted

The AC75 foiling monohull class familiar from the 36th America's Cup remains in the game in a new "Version 2" development. However, the teams are only allowed to build one new yacht each in this Cup cycle, which will no longer be powered by eleven sailors, but only by eight. The AC75 yachts will be the boats of choice for at least two further Cup editions. In addition, smaller AC40 boats will be introduced for use as test and training boats and in the Women's and Youth America's Cup. In many of these measures, the masterminds had cost reductions in mind, as well as increasing the proportion of OneDesign elements for the Cup boats and limiting the number of foils and other components. Up to three pre-regattas are planned, the first two of which will be held on the AC40 yachts and the last on the AC75 Cup yachts. The challenger series and the 37th duel for the silver jug will take place in 2024.

Also new is an independent so-called "team reconnaissance programme", which is intended to bring the observation and espionage activities of the teams known from previous Cup editions to a common denominator in future and at the same time give fans completely new insights into the teams' headquarters. "The intention is to bring all the secrecy, drama and personalities of the teams into the spotlight," reads the joint press release on the announced documentary offensive, the initial outline of which is very reminiscent of the Netflix Formula 1 documentary "Drive to Survive". Sir Ainslie also calls the new protocol "courageous and progressive" for this reason.

When asked by YACHT whether other international regattas had provided inspiration for this type of future omnipresent camera eye, Grant Dalton said: "Obviously the SailGP has done a good job. We look pretty similar to what they do with our Cup on the water. But more than that, it's about watching other sports and how they evolve - all the little subtle changes they make to make their sport more attractive every few weeks. It's also about reach. Formula 1 has gained 30 per cent new fans with the documentary series "Drive to Survive". We need to hit the ground running and start growing our fan base. That can work with something similar. But also by giving access to what's happening on the water as soon as the teams start sailing next year."