America's Cup: Review, insight, outlook - the Cup on course for the future

The America's Cup has long been known as the Formula 1 of sailing. However, the most famous sailing competition has only really come close to the high-tech battle on four wheels in Barcelona. This applies both visually and in terms of content. And not only because several Formula 1 teams were involved in the development of the boats. The futuristic foilers flew over the course like hybrids of Formula 1 racing cars and space gliders.

Rarely has an America's Cup divided the fan community as much as this 37th edition: for some it was the thrilling sailing pleasure of a new era, for others it was too far removed from the familiar because hardly any athletes were seen sailing. The crews of eight were arranged in rows of four behind each other - mirrored on both sides of the boat. Their stationary workstations, seats or saddles and pedals, had been sunk deep into the hull for aerodynamic reasons.

Only the heads wrapped in helmets and goggles peeked out. The backs of the cyclists could be seen twitching. The virtuoso operation of the heads and switches by the pilots and trimmers could not be followed. Only the consequences when monohull foilers chased each other over the short course at top speeds of 55 knots in America's Cup duels lasting just under half an hour.

Fischer and Ainslie not on the same wavelength

The pride of the Kiwis with the philosophical name was victorious: "Taihoro" stands for overcoming traditional boundaries and is intended to connect the sky and the sea. The powerhouse fulfilled both missions masterfully with an almost flawless crew. "In design, you're fighting for tenths or hundredths of a knot. But it's the way you sail these boats that makes the difference," said New Zealand's British Head of Design Dan Bernasconi.

We had a very fast boat." Martin Fischer

Martin Fischer agrees. After losing the battle, the British company's German Head of Design is convinced: "Our aerodynamics, foils and rudders were very good! We probably put in more effort than others." Like many observers, "Britannia" father Fischer also knows that other factors prevented the historic first British victory in the America's Cup: "The publicly available data shows that we had quite a big deficit compared to New Zealand when it came to tacking and barrel manoeuvres. That's where we lost most of the races. It wasn't the speed."

The fact that Fischer and Ainslie were not on the same wavelength did not always make Martin Fischer's job easy towards the end. "Our relationship wasn't good," admits Fischer. He could justify this in terms of content, but prefers not to. The collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, on the other hand, went very well from the point of view of the physicist and foil expert. Fischer describes another advantage of the Kiwis as "probably the better design of the control systems".

The America's Cup remains a Kiwi Cup

The lower, forward-facing dry bulb on the Taihoro foils was the "better solution" in smoother water. "We had the better solution for more waves with the slightly higher and rear-facing dry bulb," says Fischer, who once completed his doctorate at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology. The two different interpretations were based on statistical data and preliminary assumptions about the wave volume for the cup period.

Nobody could have predicted one hundred per cent how the weather and waves would actually behave on the decisive six days of the nine-race duel. On the only day with more confused seas, the British took their two winning points.

The Kiwis won seven times in smoother water. In Emirates Team New Zealand, chief sailor Peter Burling and chief designer Dan Bernasconi are known for their highly efficient working relationship as equals. The "Taihoro" father is an engineer with a PhD in mathematical modelling and aerodynamics and a Master's degree from Cambridge University. For him, "Pistol Pete" Burling is the ideal development partner on the sports side.

"Pistol Pete" Burling outstanding

At 1.86, Burling towers over the other helmsmen, and not just physically. He understands the physics and behaviour of boats. As an Olympic skiff champion and mechanical engineer, the 33-year-old from Tauranga has a clever mind and a unique understanding of how to optimise the flying America's Cup boats.

His co-pilot Nathan Outteridge, who once swapped 49er gold and silver with him at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, said: "My biggest challenge was to steer the boat as fast as Pete can." Burling knows the law of the Cup: "The fastest boat always wins in the end."

"Their boat was a touch faster, their manoeuvres a touch more efficient, their ability to get the first turn a touch better," said the beaten British boss Ben Ainslie, summarising the reasons for New Zealand's triumph. His bow: "I think Team New Zealand is the best team in America's Cup history."

Most successful America's Cup team in history

The statistics prove it: never before has the same team won the silver jug three times in a row. For the "All Blacks of sailing", who also compete successfully in the SailGP as "Black Foils", it was their fifth America's Cup victory after 1995, 2000, 2017 and 2021. Only America remains unassailable for a long time with 30 victories. The last US success was eleven years ago. American Magic NYYC was also unable to turn the tide in front of Barcelona.

The fact that the final for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the ticket to the duel against the Kiwis featured the same opponents as three years earlier in the 36th America's Cup in Auckland showed just how far experience can take you in the Cup. But then the more experienced ones had to leave: Patrizio Bertelli's racing team was unable to tame the fastest learning British team in this edition at the sixth attempt.

However, the Azzurri followed up their exit just one day later by announcing the continuation of their America's Cup chase. The 78-year-old Prada patriarch and record Cup chaser Bertelli has the energy for a seventh attempt. The passion was fuelled by young talent: Italy's high-flyer Marco Gradoni, who at the age of just 20 "only just" missed out on a regular place in the senior team in an internal comparison with Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni according to coach Philipp Presti, won the Youth America's Cup with the young sailing Nazionale.

What role will Jimmy Spithill play in the future?

Coach Philippe Presti said: "Marco is extremely intelligent. It's almost worrying." Giulia Conti and Italy's aggressive sailors prevailed in the final of the first Women's America's Cup against the British team led by double Olympic champion Hannah Mills. If you have such bubbling sources, you don't have to fear a Cup future. It remains to be seen what role Cup veteran Jimmy Spithill will play in the future.

The charismatic Australian ended his active career after his eighth America's Cup participation. In addition to his furious sailing style, his legendary comments remain unforgotten. He made his most famous statement in 2013, when his team was trailing 7-1 against New Zealand: "I think the question is this: Imagine these guys losing from now on? What a nuisance that would be. When they've pretty much got it in the bag already."

Spithill's Oracle Team USA then lost another race 1:8 before the most impressive comeback in Cup history took place. The Americans went on to win 9:8, and when the score before Barcelona was already 4:0 in favour of New Zealand, memories of the miraculous turnaround of yesteryear came flooding back. Ben Ainslie, who had replaced Jimmy Spithill as tactician for the historic counter-attack eleven years earlier, would have loved to have achieved something similar with his team Ineos Britannia.

Another wedding between finalists

In fact, the Brits were able to reduce the deficit to 2:4 in the cup match against the Kiwis. Suddenly everyone was electrified: Could "Britannia" stand up to "Taihoro" after all? There was no cuddling in the Kiwi camp after the double defeat. Their determination in the next encounters showed that Burling, Outteridge and crew did not want to be embarrassed again. On 19 October, they turned a quick and clever 6-2 win into a never really threatened 7-2 and bathed in confetti on the winners' stage that evening.

Away from the triumph and hustle and bustle, the initial course for the future had long since been set. As is customary in the America's Cup, the arranged "wedding" between the old and new defenders and the old and new Challenger of Record had taken place with the final finish.

The Isle of Wight's Royal Yacht Squadron, Ineos Britannia's club home in the 37th America's Cup and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's negotiating partner on the challengers' side, has resumed that role. This confirmed that the co-operation between Emirates Team New Zealand and Ineos Britannia, the negotiations between team bosses Grant Dalton and Ben Ainslie, had worked well enough for a new edition to be targeted.

The responsibility of the America's Cup defenders

It was obvious why the Brits officially put their challenging club in the foreground and did not yet appear with their team name in the new arrangement according to Cup regulations. Team supporter, chemical entrepreneur and billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who also owns almost 30 per cent of English Premier League football club Manchester United, has invested an estimated €250 million in two British America's Cup campaigns since 2017/2018.

Ben Ainslie confirmed in Barcelona that Ratcliffe will remain on board, but that his team is looking for additional support. For recent interviews, Ainslie appeared in a light-coloured shirt without team logos and said: "I set this team up ten years ago. Jim and Ineos have been fantastic supporters. They have also committed to supporting the team in the future. At what level, we'll have to see. It's not unusual in the America's Cup to share that burden."

But the biggest burden lies with the Kiwis. With the 37th America's Cup, they have left behind many hopes and several promises, the fulfilment of which will be a monstrous feat. The most important tasks: finding one or more venues for the new Cup, getting more nations on board again, keeping the AC75 class attractive in its third generation, organising pre-regattas, continuing the Youth and Women's America's Cup, giving the celebrated AC40 mini-cuppers a series soon, getting their own team on course and, and, and, and.

Grant Dalton is the strong man in the America's Cup

In view of the Herculean task, the Neue Züricher Zeitung wondered whether Emirates Team New Zealand might "win themselves to death"? But before that, 67-year-old driver Grant Dalton, a veteran of seven circumnavigations, stands with a broad back. He took over the team in 2003 after the home defeat against Alinghi at the bottom and led it back to the top through heaven and hell.

At home in New Zealand, he is controversial because he preferred to spend 70 million Spanish euros organising the Cup and the renewed success of his team in Barcelona instead of worrying about sporting survival with meagre resources at home in Hauraki Golf. Dalton remains the strong man in the game. His pithy statements are sometimes polarising, even in the America's Cup.

When up-and-coming teams with no previous AC40 experience timidly asked for some extra practice time in Barcelona after weather-related training cancellations, he barked back: "Every team had the chance to buy their own boat." With a purchase price of around 2.8 million dollars, only one team (Sweden) without a connection to a current Cup racing team had managed to do so.

More teams? Impossible in Barcelona!

Dalton's answer to the question of a possible return of the America's Cup to Auckland was also fondly rumoured in Barcelona. Dalton simply said: "I'm certainly not going to call them. But they have my number." The man is either despised or revered in his home country. The moderate centre is not a "Dalts" domain. The renewed victory in the America's Cup of the most successful sailing team of the last three decades has once again proved the upright man right.

Three days after the Cup ended, Grant Dalton said in a team statement: "We recognise that we have a number of valuable assets that we want to continue to grow. We are open to how we can best achieve this with one or more venues that can provide the 38th America's Cup with a greater global presence, more teams and overall more expansion opportunities. It would be difficult to increase the number of teams based on the available infrastructure in Barcelona."

In other words, the goal of "more teams" and Barcelona do not fit together. In the meantime, the Spanish have also ruled out a follow-up edition in Barcelona. Although the Catalan harbour city offered a strong backdrop, a lively America's Cup Race Village and much more, there were often wistful thoughts of the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia in 2007, where an incredible eleven challengers and defender Alinghi - even more than before in Auckland - had their temporary home in the Cup harbour in a horseshoe shape.

America's Cup: wistful Valencia memories

An atmosphere was created there that was unattainable with the camps that were kilometres apart in Barcelona. Despite the official figure of 2.56 million participants over 59 event days, the comeback in the 1992 Olympic city is off the table. However, Grant Dalton has not ruled out a return to Auckland in conjunction with worldwide pre-events: "It's not off the table yet."

It is clear that a European America's Cup port could attract the interest of more European challengers. It is also known that New Zealand's loyal title sponsor Emirates, based in Dubai, would like to see a Cup spectacle in the United Arab Emirates. An AC40 pre-regatta has already been held in Jeddah in the 37th Cup cycle. Other models of thought included a split: after too few races for the early elimination of the challengers in this edition, a sportingly extended Louis Vuitton Cup and the 38th Cup duel could take place in different areas.

This in turn could cause headaches for the design teams. According to the defenders, a timetable for the announcement of all key data should come quickly. The field of further development of the boats remains exciting. "There's a lot of automation on these boats now. In some respects that means there is less need for sailors in sailing roles. Personally, I would be keen to perhaps get rid of some of that automation and create a need for more sailors," said Dan Bernasconi at his seventh Cup appearance.

Bernasconi's Cup story began with Team Germany

Bernasconi spent six years as Head of Vehicle Modelling for the MacLaren Formula 1 Team before swapping 200 km/h cars for 100 km/h boats. Bernasconi worked for the faltering Team Germany in his first America's Cup in 2007, switched to Alinghi and joined Emirates Team New Zealand in 2010. The Brit took over as Technical Director for the winning campaign in 2017 and stayed on.

The 51-year-old will help shape the next Cup. In particular the AC75 spoiler. The regulations already stipulated some parts of the electronics as OneDesign elements this time. "We centralised the entire camera system on board or the starting software, everyone used the same tactical software," explains Bernasconi.

The balance between sailing and design must remain." Dan Bernasconi

As cost reductions remain an issue, "perhaps even more can be summarised". But Bernasconi also said: "On the other hand, it's great to keep many design aspects open. Simply because it's the America's Cup! We don't want all the boats to look the same. I think it's cool for people to see the different designs."

The Kiwi formula: Simulation instead of expensive test boats

So what was New Zealand's overriding strength in this edition? The same as always: they made more out of less. The less refers to an estimated budget of 70 or 80 million euros compared to well over 100 million euros for their most potent rivals. Dan Bernasconi said: "All the teams have developed test boats. We have used our AC40s for testing. We have not spent big money on developing specialised test boats. As before, we rely heavily on simulation in the design process. This helps to save money and helps us to better understand the boat and its physics."

However, the Kiwis are not quite as impoverished as some might assume when comparing Emirates Team New Zealand with industry giants such as the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, Ineos Britannia or Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Contrary to the widespread assumption that they do not have a super-rich Cup chaser à la Patrizio Bertelli, Sir Jim Ratcliffe or Ernesto Bertarelli on board, there is indeed a Canadian philanthropist, team captain Matteo de Nora, who has increasingly supported the Kiwis since 2003.

Born in the USA to a Swiss mother and an Italian father, he has often "saved" the team. In his time, Emirates Team New Zealand has won the America's Cup three times. De Nora supports the team financially, as an advisor and as a friend. Among other things, he holds several patents in the medical sector. Matteo de Nora once described his commitment to the Italian magazine Vela as follows: "Everyone plays their role in their own way and according to the culture of the team. In my case, I act as a lightning rod and try to think in the medium term, as Grant is so preoccupied with short-term problems."

The Cup-Foiler on course for the future

One of the upcoming tasks for the New Zealand Cup defenders is the further development of the AC75 spoilers, which are to be used again in the 38th America's Cup. Then in the third generation. Dan Bernasconi links the remaining development potential for the next edition to the venue. "We have dressed for light winds this time. If we were to sail in the same area in three years' time, we would struggle to make further gains in some areas. Then it would probably be much more about the sailing itself. But if we were sailing somewhere else and in more wind, there would be a lot of things you could do with the boats to sail well over 50 knots."

Click here for all the results of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup.

For technology fans - here America's Cup expert "Mozzy sails" explains his five reasons why Emirates Team New Zealand successfully defended the silver jug: