GLIMPSES OF AC PROTOCOL

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) and Defender Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ), along with the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd (RYSL) and Challenger of Record INEOS Team UK, announced initiatives to be included as part of the Protocol for the 37th America’s Cup due to be published November 17th.

With the AC75 remaining as the centrepiece of the dramatic America’s Cup racing for at least the next two editions, a new class of boat, the one design AC40 foiling monohull, is being introduced as a new multipurpose class which will help expand pathways into the main event.

The AC40 will be a dynamic, powerful, scaled-down version of the AC75 able to reach similar speeds to its big sister at times. The new class will be the catalyst to accelerate participation in the America’s Cup from the global talent pool of female and youth foiling sailors via separate AC37 Women’s and Youth America’s Cup regattas as part of the overall 37th America’s Cup event schedule at the host venue.

Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton explains: “All of the competing teams must purchase at least one AC40 which will be used in the Preliminary Regattas, and then made available for the respective and independent Women’s and Youth regattas to be held at the venue of the AC37 Match.”

“The yacht clubs of competing AC teams must enter both the Women’s and Youth events, however entries will also be open to other countries and yacht clubs.”

The hope is that private owners will purchase their own AC40S to build an exciting and accessible class for the future.

Over recent months The Defender and Challenger of Record have been working to agree the Protocol for the next America’s Cup which is due to be published on November 17th. Both parties can confirm the next event will be a multi-challenger event, ending speculation about a one-on-one event.