The Yachting Year 2018

THE YACHTING YEAR 2018 | 41

RACING SAILORS

AMERICA’S CUP

CAMPAIGNS BUILD

On 1 January 2018, entries for the 36th America’s Cup will

open and the momentum will begin to build towards the

expected announcement of the class rule on 31 March, elabo-

rating on the information given so far by Grant Dalton when

Emirates Team New Zealand released the Protocol, that the

yachts will be 75ft monohulls, “suitable for head-to-head

match racing and close competition” (see p20 for more).

Then, by the end of August, we are expected to have confi r-

mation of the venue and course area that will be used for the

America’s Cup Match in March 2021.

Meanwhile, we wait with interest as the Challengers as-

semble and announce their intentions. With the Circolo della

Vela Sicilia (Luna Rossa) as Challenger of Record, challenges

have also been indicated from Sir Ben Ainslie’s Royal Yacht

Squadron-backed Land Rover BAR, and from the New York

Yacht Club, holders of the trophy from 1851 to 1983, who now

plan to put in their fi rst challenge in 15 years, represented by

Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association led by John J ‘Hap’

Fauth and Doug DeVos. There’s strong interest too from

Australia, Switzerland (Alinghi) and French (Groupama Team

France), with rumblings too from the USA west coast and the

Swedes (Artemis Racing).

R O U N D

B R I T A I N A N D

I R E L A N D

R A C E

I R C E U R O P E A N S I N C O W E S

SANDER VAN DER BORCH

TYY4 Year ahead Y&Y.indd 41 04/12/2017 17:03