The America's Cup for sailing, also known as the America's Cup, is the oldest trophy in the history of international sport , having been contested for the first time in 1851 . This prestigious competition began with a regatta around the Isle of Wight , in England, which was won by the New York Yacht Club's yacht America , giving rise to the name of the competition.
The Copa América format is based on competition between a defender , who is the winning team from the previous edition, and several challengers who compete against each other to win the right to challenge the defender. The challenging teams participate in a series of regattas known as the Challenger Selection Series (previously known as the Louis Vuitton Cup) to determine who will face the defender in the final regatta .
Throughout its history, the America's Cup has been fertile ground for innovation in boat design . The AC75 class boats, used in the most recent edition, are monohulls fitted with hydrofoils that allow them to reach very high speeds by raising the hull out of the water, reducing drag. This evolution has seen a transition from large classic yachts to modern catamarans and, currently, monohulls with foils. Each team is free to design and build their own AC75 within certain limits established by the competition rules , which encourages technological innovation and development in naval engineering.
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The organization of the America's Cup is complex and expensive , with teams sponsored by large companies and supported by financial consortia since the prices of each participating boat can exceed 60 million euros . Each team includes designers, engineers, meteorologists and a highly specialized navigation team . The venue of the competition changes with each edition , depending on the defender and the agreement with local organizers. In recent events, the America's Cup has been held in places such as the United States, Bermuda, and New Zealand.
Beyond being a sporting competition, the America's Cup is a showcase of technological innovation and advanced yacht design . It attracts a wide audience, including sports fans, corporate sponsors and naval technology enthusiasts .
The 37th edition of the Copa América will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from August 22 to October 27, 2024 . In addition to the main competition, there will be preliminary events and the Louis Vuitton Cup , which will determine the challenging team that will face Emirates Team New Zealand in the final. The regattas will take place in various locations around Barcelona, such as the old port, Port Vell, Port Olímpic and Port Fòrum.
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Teams that will compete in the Copa América de Vela
- Emirates Team New Zaland: The defending team will compete with the AC75 Te Rehutai , which debuted in the previous America's Cup. This boat, which reaches speeds of up to 50 knots , has been updated with improvements to its design and control systems. It will be led by captain Peter Burling and will feature several America's Cup veterans and new additions who provide experience in high-speed racing. This will be the first time a New Zealand team defends its title outside of its country.
- INEOS Britannia: This British team will compete with its new AC75 RB3 boat, developed in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team . This innovative boat features riders who generate power through pedals instead of traditional pinwheels. Led by Sir Ben Ainslie , the team includes Olympians such as Giles Scott and high-performance members mainly in sailing, although they have also done very well in cycling.
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- Alinghi Red Bull Racing: This team is a collaboration between Alinghi , a two-time America's Cup-winning syndicate, and Red Bull , a powerhouse in global sports. The team will compete under the flag of the Société Nautique de Genève , marking its return to the America's Cup after more than a decade . The team's boat, called BoatOne , is an AC75 model, which represents the latest generation of high-performance sailing yachts . This boat was revealed at a ceremony in Barcelona and stands out for its innovative design, including a straight, ultra-slim bow profile, and an aggressive deck expansion designed to handle the wave conditions expected in the competition. K ey members include multiple Olympic champions and experienced sailors , ensuring a competitive advantage in racing.
- American Magic: Representing the New York Yacht Club , American Magic will compete with its AC75 Patriot boat, which has been optimized following experience in the previous America's Cup to improve speed and maneuverability . American Magic seeks to combine experience and advanced technology to stand out in the competition, relying on its solid preparation and the knowledge accumulated during previous regattas to face other strong contenders. The crew, led by Terry Hutchinson and consisting of Paul Goodison, Riley Gibbs and Michael Menninger , have been working on continuous improvement of the boat to ensure it is ready to compete in the difficult conditions expected in Barcelona.
Taken from Cat Sailing News
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- Orient Express Recing Team: Representing France , this team is one of the new challengers, looking to make their mark on the competition with a fresh approach and innovative tactics. The French team will compete with its AC75 Orient Express boat, designed to balance speed and stability in various sailing conditions. Led by Stéphane Kandler , the team features a mix of young talent and experienced sailors.
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