Welcome to the 37th America’s Cup that will take place between August and October 2024 in the beating heart of beautiful Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and one of the most visited cities on planet earth. Situated around Port Vell and out along the beach to Port Olympic, the sailing world has made Barcelona their home for what promises to be one of the most intense America’s Cups in the event’s 174-year history.
“Like a jewel in the sun” was how Montserrat Caballé and Freddy Mercury described Barcelona in their famous song about the city. The cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region–known worldwide for its art, architecture and vibrancy–is shining even brighter as preparations are well underway to welcome the 37th America’s Cup and its teams.
All the teams’ bases will be located within the Port Vell area and surrounded by the America’s Cup village where tens of thousands of spectators can be accommodated on a daily basis. The course area, just outside the port entrance breakwaters, is set in front of significant fan zones, beach viewing platforms and a hospitality area to provide the perfect vista.
The 37th America's Cup Official Opening Ceremony will be held in Barcelona on 22 August 2024. The Final Preliminary Event and the Challenger Selection Series will follow, leading up to the America's Cup Match that will start on 12 October 2024. During 2023/early 2024, there is potential for up to three preliminary events. By June 2023, all the teams will have their base set up and be training in Barcelona. Futher details and race schedules will be published in due course.
The holders of the America’s Cup are Emirates Team New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, but some strong competition is coming for them. INEOS Britannia, the ‘Challenger of Record’ from the United Kingdom, are in charge of the Selection Series to decide who will race against New Zealand for the trophy. The unique format of the Cup sees the Defender of the trophy automatically entitled to race in the final ‘Match’ whereas the Challengers will undertake a series to find the top yacht to take on the New Zealand team. Confirmed entries are: Alinghi Red Bull Racing from Switzerland, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli from Italy, American Magic New York Yacht Club from the USA and K-Challenge from France.
The AC75s are the pinnacle of foiling monohull yachts. Created for the 36th America’s Cup, they are a technological leap ahead of typical yachts as Formula 1 is to your daily driver. With foils that lift them out of the water and enable the yachts to generate so much momentum that they sail 4 x faster than the wind.
For the 37th America’s Cup, the second generation of the AC75s will be faster still with wider foils and refinements all over. Eight crew will be aboard and some of the finest sailing talent will be charged with racing them.
The AC40s, meanwhile, are the boats used for the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup events and as training vessels for the main teams competing in the 37th America’s Cup. Smaller but no less potent, with a four-person crew, these pocket-rockets were launched to much fanfare in September 2022, and their performance has been astonishing.
The Challenger Selections Series will determine which team will face the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup Match. It will comprise of a Round Robin stage and a Final Stage. The Round Robin stage may consist of a single or double round depending upon the number of eligible Competitors and the time available for racing. The top two teams qualify for the final stage. The winner will be the first Challenger in the Final stage to score at least seven points.
The America’s Cup is the race with no second place. Either you win or you lose, and it has been like this for over 170 years.
In October 2024 the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand will face the winner of the Challenger Selection Series in a 13-race Match. Each race will be a match race between the two teams. The winner of each race scores one point, the loser scores no points. The first team to score seven points will become the Defender of the 38th America’s Cup.