The America’s Cup is the world’s oldest international sports yachting trophy.
First contested in 1851, it predates the Olympic Games by 45 years. It all began in New York, when a syndicate of businessmen sailed their schooner America to the World’s Fair in England. America (for which the trophy was later named) won a race around the Isle of Wight, beating a fleet of 15 British yachts, and claimed the sterling silver ewer trophy.
Originally called The One Hundred Guinea Cup (and affectionately known as the “Auld Mug”), the cup had been donated to the event by Henry William Paget, 1st Marquis of Anglesey.
Apparently, as America passed the Royal Yacht to take first place, and saluted by dipping its ensign three times, Queen Victoria enquired who was in second place. Her attendant replied: “Your Majesty, there is no second.”
It was the start of the longest winning streak in the history of international sport, with the USA successfully defending the cup on 24 occasions from 1870 until 1980. Finally, in 1983, Australia II was the first challenger to lift the trophy.
To read more about the history of the America’s Cup, go to americascup.com/en/history.
Five teams are competing in 2021
Emirates Team New Zealand (defending the trophy)
Luna Rossa PRADA Pirelli team
NYYC American Magic
INEOS TEAM UK
Stars & Stripes Team USA
Key Dates
17-20 Dec 2020 America’s Cup World Series Auckland and Christmas Race
15 Jan-22 Feb 2021 The PRADA Cup Challenger Series
6-21 March 2021 36th America’s Cup, presented by PRADA
The America’s Cup – By the numbers
Winners
30 – USA
(incl. the original Isle of Wight race)
3 – New Zealand
2 – Switzerland
1 – Australia
0 – Great Britain
32.4lb
14.7kg Approx weight of the “Auld Mug”
US$100 million – Estimated cost for each team to compete
US$300 million – Estimated amount spent by 2013’s winning team (Oracle Team USA)
The AC75 Boat
20.7m – Hull length
2.0m – Bowsprit
6.5 tonnes Weight
26.5m Mast height (from the deck)
135-145 sq m – Mail sail
90 sq m -Jib
200 sq m – Code zero
11 Sailors
960-990kg Crew weight
20% or 3 Crew members who must be citizens of the country of the competing
(whichever is higher) yacht club
Death
Tragedy struck in 2013. Artemis Racing crew member Andrew
Simpson was killed when the boat “pitchpoled” (flipped end over end) and broke apart.
Christmas spectacular
The America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) Auckland and Christmas Race will be held on the same courses as the PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series and the 36th America’s Cup. The teams will gain vital opportunities to experience the race conditions they could face in March 2021.
“To win the America’s Cup, first you have to win the PRADA Cup.”
This series consists of four round robins of three races each, a seven-race semi-final, and a 13-race final between the two leading teams. Each win earns one point. The highest ranked challenger at the end of the round robins will automatically qualify for the final. The remaining teams will race in the semi-final with the first team to reach four point qualifying for the final. The PRADA Cup is a “striking new trophy” from renowned designer Marc Newsom CBE, “painstakingly handcrafted by Florentine silversmiths”.
AC36: the pinnacle of yachting
Emirates Team New Zealand will race the winner of the PRADA Cup. Who will be the first to reach seven points, and hold that longed-for trophy aloft?
The race courses
There are five designated areas across the Hauraki Gulf. Race management will determine which course will be used on which day, depending upon tides, and wind direction and strength.
Course A is northernmost, and closest to the East Coast Bays.
To learn more about all the courses and their viewing vantage points, go to americascup.com/race-courses.
