The 2024 America's Cup is just around the corner
Following the Spanish début in Vilanova i la Geltrú, the Luna Rossa is ready to get back in the water in view of the second Preliminary Regatta, scheduled to take place from Wednesday, 29th November to Saturday, 2nd December in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is set to be a truly historic event, considering that America's Cup teams will be racing in the Red Sea for the first time in 172 years of the event's history.
ONE STEP BACK
The first regatta, which took place last September in Spanish waters, was not a particularly dazzling show: the absence of wind prevented the vessels from rising on their foils, thus losing speed and potential for putting on a good show. The six teams in the race nonetheless contended to win, with the NYYC American Magic team claiming the victory. The Luna Rossa finished in fourth place, a result also justified by the shorter amount of time the team spent practising with the AC40s (the one design yachts used for these preliminary regattas) compared to its opponents. Indeed, the Italian team preferred to focus on tests on board the LEQ12 prototype, with a clear objective: to fine-tune the last design details of the AC75 (the official vessels of the 2024 America's Cup in Barcelona) and be truly ready for the “real” America's Cup. Although they do not earn the teams any points, the preliminary regattas are still an important opportunity for the teams to chalk up experience and also help to keep public attention high.
NOW ALL EYES ARE TRAINED ON JEDDAH
In the second Preliminary Regatta, the starring role will again be played by the Defender of the America's Cup (Emirates Team New Zealand) and the five challengers: the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, the INEOS Britannia, the Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the NYYC American Magic and the Orient Express Racing Team. The teams will continue to compete in AC40s, which are smaller and faster than the AC75s and identical for all teams. The schedule remains the same as in Vilanova: fleet regattas, with all participants in the water at the same time, to determine the two top teams going head-to-head for the final regatta Match Race.
As far as the temperature is concerned, it ranges between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius between November and December in Jeddah and the average wind speed is around 8-9 knots. It's not the windiest season for this city, which is at its best between June and August, but the conditions should be good enough to witness more exciting regattas than in Vilanova.
An unfailing feature of the event is the Race Village, located in the iconic Jeddah Corniche, the 30 km-long waterfront, from which spectators can admire the yachts as they speed past at about 100 km/h. Guaranteed thrills are therefore in store for the crowds, who will also be able to watch the regattas from the big screens.
THE ROAD TO THE “AULD MUG”
After Jeddah, there will be a third and final preliminary regatta in Barcelona in August 2024 with the new AC75s. Then it's on to the Challenger Selection Series (Louis Vuitton Cup), with the five challengers competing against each other in a series of match races: the winner will face the current Defender to claim the America's Cup, in a best of 13 regattas Match, starting on 12th October 2024. The first team to score seven wins will win the Cup.
