As we reported in last month’s issue of The Islander,  the next America’s Cup will be raced in Bermuda in June of 2017. The host venue was confirmed at a press conference in New York on Tuesday by Harvey Schiller, the Commercial Commissioner for the America’s Cup. Bermuda and San Diego had been the venues under final review. 

“In Bermuda we have a perfect international venue to demonstrate the excitement America’s Cup boats and teams can generate,” Schiller said. “The sailing conditions are near perfect. The race course on The Great Sound is a natural amphitheatre with room for racing and spectators, amid a spectacular backdrop of islands and beaches. And the proposed America’s Cup Village at the Royal Naval Dockyard will be the heart of the event for the teams and fans alike.

“The 2017 America’s Cup will build on the successful elements that now define the event – close racing in fast, foiling catamarans crewed by the very best sailors in the world and delivered to an international audience by award-winning broadcasters.”

Six teams have so far taken up the challenge of racing for the next America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport. The defending champion is ORACLE TEAM USA, which won the last event with a spectacular comeback over Emirates Team New Zealand, who return as a challenger, along with Artemis Racing (SWE), Ben Ainslie Racing (GBR), Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA) and Team France.

There are also two additional groups that have expressed serious interest to enter as challenger.

Red Bull Youth America’s Cup
The second edition of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup was also confirmed in New York. In the inaugural edition, over 40 national youth teams (aged 19-23) applied to enter the qualifying phase. The top ten teams raced on the America’s Cup course in the same AC45 catamarans the pros had used in the America’s Cup World Series. The second edition will be held in the same foiling AC45 to be used in the upcoming America’s Cup World Series.

America’s Cup World Series
All teams have been given an opportunity to host events in their home countries, with racing to be held in foiling AC45s. At least four events are expected in 2015 and four to six events are expected in 2016, including a summer regatta in the USA in Chicago.

2017 – the year of the America’s Cup
In 2017, all teams will compete in their new AC62 catamarans, powered by highly-efficient wingsails and designed to fly above the water on foils at speeds near 50 mph.

Racing begins for all teams (defender and challengers) in the America’s Cup Qualifiers, where the teams are seeded – with bonus points – according to their results in the America’s Cup World Series. The top challengers then go on to compete in the America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs and the right to race Oracle Team USA in the America’s Cup Finals in June 2017.

The exact challenger format is not yet decided, but all teams will compete in Bermuda, and will be based in one location.

Defender – Where are they now?
Oracle Team USA has been moving out of their base at Pier 80 in San Francisco. They do, however, plan to launch a test boat in San Francisco for training on the Bay in February, but have plans to move to Bermuda by April.