Discover everything about the exciting 2024 America’s Cup Sailing in Barcelona. From its rich history to the participating teams and the innovative AC75 boats, this competition is a showcase of elite sailing. We provide the key dates and details about its celebration in the Mediterranean capital. We invite you to dive into the world of sailing and experience the passion of the 2024 America’s Cup.
The 2024 America’s Cup offers the opportunity to witness the feats of the world’s most talented sailors as they challenge the forces of nature in open waters. It is a celebration of human skill, naval engineering, and sports competition in its purest form.
At Motyvel, we want to delve into all aspects of this fascinating tournament, from its historical roots to the most exciting details. Here we will tell you the date of the next America’s Cup taking place in Barcelona, and other interesting facts to closely follow the tournament. Our passion for sailing, connections in the nautical community, and experience in nautical events make us the right experts. If you are looking for a comprehensive and passionate perspective on the America’s Cup Sailing, discover with us the excitement and grandeur of this highly anticipated 2024 tournament.
What is the America’s Cup?
The name “America’s Cup,” also known as “Cup of America,” originates from the name of the schooner that won the first edition of the regatta: the schooner America.
The America’s Cup is, without a doubt, the most prominent and revered competition in the world of sailing. The anticipation surrounding this 2024 competition is largely due to its rich history and its status as one of the oldest sporting events in the world, with 174 years of tradition. It holds the title of being the oldest sporting event in history, with an impressive legacy dating back to 1851. To put its longevity into perspective, the America’s Cup began its tradition of nautical challenges before the modern Olympic Games, which started in 1896.
Since its inception, it has witnessed the evolution of nautical technology and sailing skill. Each edition brings with it revolutionary advances in boat design and racing strategies, making the America’s Cup a laboratory of innovation and excellence in sailing.
This competition represents the essence of elite sailing, bringing together teams from different sailing clubs around the world in an exciting showdown for the famous Silver Cup. The winning team becomes the custodian of this prestigious trophy until another team challenges them and is forced to defend the Cup in a new regatta.
Where and when is the 2024 America’s Cup being held?
The 2024 America’s Cup edition will be set in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona, known as the “capital of the Mediterranean,” is a perfect choice for this elite competition due to its prime location alongside the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and its rich maritime history. The Catalan city has proven its expertise in organizing high-level sporting events, making it an ideal venue to host this prestigious regatta.
The races will be held from Port Vell to either the Port Olímpic or the Port Fòrum, depending on wind conditions. The public will have the opportunity to follow the races from the city beaches for free. Additionally, strategic areas will be set up for better visibility, providing a unique opportunity to witness these extraordinary boats in action, popularly known as the “Formula 1 of the sea.”
The date for the 2024 America’s Cup is scheduled to take place between the months of August and October, offering exciting competitions in the Mediterranean Sea. The opening ceremony will be held on August 22, 2024, and will consist of several races that will culminate in the final match or duel, scheduled for October. However, since this summer (2023), the vessels have already been seen undergoing training.
So you don’t miss a single moment, here are the key dates:
- August 22: Official opening of the 37th edition of the America’s Cup.
- August 23: Start of the final preliminary regatta, with all teams competing for the first time aboard the AC75s.
- From late August to early October: Challenger Selection Series, to determine the team that will face the current defender of the Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand.
- From late August to early October: To determine the team that will face the current defender of the Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand.
- From September 26 to October 16: Celebration of the Puig Women’s America’s Cup and the Youth America’s Cup.
- From October 12 to 20: Start of the America’s Cup Match, a competition of 13 races where the current defender of the Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, will face the winning team of the Challenger Selection Series. The first team to score 7 points will become the winner of the 37th America’s Cup, and the defender of the 38th edition.
Participating teams
Six elite teams will line up at the start of the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona. The bases of these teams will be located in the Port Vell area, which will become the epicenter of the 2024 America’s Cup activity.
The unique format of the race gives the trophy defender the automatic right to compete in the America’s Cup Match Final, while the challengers will hold a series of races to determine the best team to face him.
The main teams are:
- Emirates Team New Zealand (New Zealand). The current holder of the America’s Cup, this team represents the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
- INEOS Britannia (United Kingdom). This team performs the Challenger of Record, being the first challenge to the Emirates Team New Zealand.
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Switzerland).
- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Italy).
- American Magic New York Yacht Club (United States).
- Orient Express Racing Team (France).
On the other hand, in addition to the main competitions, this edition includes two additional tournaments: the Youth America’s Cup and the Women’s America’s Cup, which will pit representatives from the six America’s Cup syndicates against another six invited teams. Only six teams will qualify for the finals, and the top two will advance to the final that will decide the winner. A Spanish team, SailTeamBCN, will participate in both competitions, bringing the local spirit to the global sailing stage.
Boats that will be used in the 2024 America’s Cup
The true stars of the race are the AC75 boats, which can be described as the “Formula 1 of the sea”.
These vessels incorporate cutting-edge technology, featuring hydrofoils that allow them to literally rise above the water, reaching astonishing speeds of over 50 knots, equivalent to almost 100 km/h. The AC75s embody innovation and speed in competitive sailing.
Alongside the AC75s, there’s also another category of boats, the AC40s, which will be used in the youth and women’s competition, as well as in the initial preliminary races. The AC40s are the younger siblings of the AC75s, but no less thrilling.
A highlight of the 2024 America’s Cup is its commitment to sustainability. For the first time, support vessels will run on hydrogen, marking a significant step towards more environmentally-friendly practices in elite sailing competition.
The 2024 America’s Cup promises to be an unforgettable event in the beautiful city of Barcelona. With its thrilling races, cutting-edge technology, and the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop, this competition will represent the best of global sailing.
