America's Cup: Playoffs and Cup final off Bermuda

Defenders and challengers in the 35th America's Cup cycle have agreed that both the challenger round and the final duel for the 35th America's Cup will take place in the Great Sound off Bermuda. This means that the bay in the Atlantic Bermuda Islands will be the only venue for the play-offs and the duel between the victorious challenger and the American defenders of Larry Ellison's Oracle Team USA. The venue originally planned for the challenger round in the Hauraki Gulf off Auckland was rejected by the majority of the challengers for reasons of cost and time.

In 2017, all challengers will complete a double round robin round in the recently decided smaller Cup catamarans. The four challengers with the most points will reach the semi-finals after the two preliminary rounds in the "everyone against everyone" format. The semi-final winners will compete in the challenger final for the right to challenge Oracle Team USA in the 35th Cup duel. This majority decision by the challengers and the defender was announced by Cup marketing director Harvey Schiller at the beginning of the week. Schiller said: "At our challengers' forum meeting last week, the teams agreed on the regatta programme for 2017."

The races are to be held in June 2017. The detailed regatta schedule will be determined by the Head of Marketing in consultation with the participants and will be finalised as soon as possible.