The rule has remained essentially the same since its creation. The America's Cup is always organized by the holder of the Cup, who is called the"Defender". Moreover, its name suits it like a glove since its creation in 1851, the United States dominated the race for 132 years, defending (and thus keeping the cup) 24 times from 1870 to 1980, until in 1983, Australia II became the first challenger to win the trophy.
The Defender therefore puts his title back into play and organises races as he wishes, on the race course and on the boats of his choice. These rules are by necessity always fairplay since the Defender has every interest to put a maximum of asset on his side to keep his trophy.
On this 35 e edition, Oracle Team USA, the latest winner decided to change site, preferring Bermuda, to San Francisco.
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series (LVACWS)
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series is the preliminary circuit for all America's Cup contenders. For two years, the challenges entered on the America's meet for 3 days of racing in different countries around the world. Friday is dedicated to training, while 3 regattas a day allow crews to compete on Saturday and Sunday. The regattas are contested on AC 45 monotypes and each of the six races lasts between 17 and 22 minutes and is most often contested on a closed body of water, near the coast, or even in a port, to be as close as possible to the public.
The course is deliberately short, and announced just before the start with fast edges, gates to respect and a race zone not to pass. This regatta differs from the"classic" regattas with a start in front of the wind, since here, the AC 45s start at reaching (crosswind).
Wind conditions must be present to start the races: 6 knots at 5.5 m for 1 minute (low limit) and 25 knots at 5.5 m for 1 minute (high limit).
At the end of his two years of World Series, a general ranking determines the position of the various challenges, according to the points they have accumulated during his regattas. The first of the ranking then gets a bonus of two points for the first stage of the America's Cup, the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers, which are the challengers' qualifiers.
All the participants then gathered at the America's Cup venue two months before the start of the competition. For this 35 e Bermuda was the place where the six challenges were found.
America's Cup
The 35 e America's Cup will start on May 26th and will last about 1 month, with several events. First, the six challenges - the Defender and the 5 challengers - will participate in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers at the end of which a challenger will be eliminated. The top four will then access the Louis Vuitton Challengers Playoffs. This final qualifying phase will bring the four challengers together in two groups for the semi-final. The first of each group to reach 5 points will win the semi-final and qualify for the final. In this last round, the first to reach 5 points again will be the Defender's challenger.
Challenger and Defender will compete in the final Match, at the end of which the winner will be chosen.
The Trophy, the Silver Ewer
The Silver Ewer is a silver vase about 1 m high engraved with the names of all the winners. It is still the same since the first race in 1851 and it had to be raised twice!
It is exhibited in the winning team's country until the next America's Cup and protected as a real piece of art.
