America's Cup: Barcelona is calling Cup fans - the schedule for the sailing spectacle
Tatjana Pokorny
· 09.09.2024
Because Barcelona is easy to reach for Europeans, many German America's Cup fans also have travel plans. The most varied programme in the history of the Cup makes it difficult to decide when to visit.
The last pre-regatta, the Louis Vuitton Cup, the challenger round to the America's Cup, the Youth America's Cup and the Puig Women's America's Cup and finally the 37th duel for the most important trophy in international sailing will take place in Barcelona over a period of almost three months until the end of October.
37th America's Cup: The schedule at a glance
- 22 to 25 August: Preliminary Regatta Barcelona
- 29 August to 8 September: Louis Vuitton Cup (Round-Robin)
- 14 to 19 September: Louis Vuitton Cup (semi-final)
- 17 to 26 September: Youth America's Cup
- 26 September to 5 October: Louis Vuitton Cup (Final)
- 5 to 13 October: Women's America's Cup
- 12 to 21 October: America's Cup match
The third and final pre-regatta for the 37th America's Cup took place from 22 to 25 August. The teams sailed on the new AC75 monohulls for the first time.
Just four days later, the Louis Vuitton Cup kicked off with the opening double round robin round (two matches each) from 29 August to 8 September. The semi-finals of the challenger round are scheduled for 14 to 19 September. The final will be played from 26 September to 5 October. The winner will be able to challenge the New Zealand defenders in the 37th America's Cup match from 12 to 21 October for the oldest and most famous trophy in international sailing.
New in the challenger round: the Cup defenders are in the mix!
What is new in this edition of the America's Cup is that not only the five challengers Ineos Britannia ("Challenger of Record", Great Britain), Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Italy), NYYC American Magic (USA), Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Switzerland) and the French Orient Express Racing Team are taking part in the Louis Vuitton Cup. The Cup defenders from New Zealand are also already playing here, as they would otherwise have no chance of real comparisons due to the one-boat rule.
Important to know: On the way to the semi-finals of the challenger series, however, the results of matches between the challengers and the defenders do not play a role in scoring points in the Louis Vuitton Cup. The best four of the five challengers reach the semi-finals. One team falls by the wayside. Nice or hard: the winner of the preliminary round can choose their opponent. "Pick your own poison" - this is often the motto when it comes to the agony of choice at major sailing events. The first team to achieve five victories in the semi-finals advances to the Louis Vuitton Cup final.
The tough road to the America's Cup final
Days off are not planned. The tight schedule leaves the challengers no room for error. Any major break could lead to an early exit. In the Louis Vuitton Cup, the two best challengers fight it out in a "best of 13" series for the right to challenge the Kiwis in the battle for the jug.
The first team to record seven wins in the final of the challenger series will be allowed to challenge the Kiwis in the duel for the "bottomless silver jug". The Cup match itself will also be played as a "best of 13" series, which is expected to end on 21 October. Reserve days are scheduled for the period from 22 to 27 October.
The schedule for the Youth and Women's America's Cup
In between, the youth and, for the first time, the women will also be in high demand in the 37th Cup chapter: In the Youth America's Cup from 17 to 26 September and in the Puig Women's America's Cup from 5 to 13 October, German crews from the Youth and Women's America's Cup Team Germany will also be competing. They are among the six challenger teams in the competition that have made it to the start line on their own initiative. A further six youth and six women's teams will be sent by the "big" Cup teams themselves.
The training and racing schedule for each of these two junior events follows the same pattern: an official training session takes place before the regatta days, before the fleet is divided into two groups of six boats each for an eight-race opening series. This is followed by the fleet cut, in which the six best teams compete in four fleet races to determine the two best boats in each series.
Just like the big boys, but even tougher: final duels with knockout character for the youngsters
The Youth America's Cup Final - one race, one winner - is scheduled to take place between Races 1 and 2 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final on 26 September. The Puig Women's America's Cup Final will be held between Races 3 and 4 of the 37th America's Cup Duel on 13 October 2024.
Commenting on the schedule for the Youth and inaugural Women's competition, Grant Dalton said: "This means maximum global exposure for our Youth and Women's finalists. It will be a very tough regatta where the full range of sailing disciplines will be put to the test. The winners of the competitions will be catapulted onto the world stage. We are sure to see future America's Cup legends step into the limelight. It's an exciting but challenging format that will put the athletes to the test."
