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Returning
to Europe for the first time in over 150-years, the programme for the 32nd
America's Cup reflects the importance of this occasion.
There is an ambitious four-year schedule of regattas commencing in 2004,
each one a distinct Act in the drama of the 32nd America's Cup. The climax
will be the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup Match itself in 2007.
Never before has the America's Cup consisted of such an ambitious
programme. For the first time, the America's Cup season consists of more
than just the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup Match.
These opening Acts will be a mixture of fleet and match races in a variety
of venues, and open to all.
This concept of a series of Acts is a big evolution for the America's Cup.
In the modern era, post 1958, the gap between competitions has been as
high as five years; a situation described by one notable Cup sailor as
being "rather a long time between drinks."
In an effort to make America's Cup racing a more regular feature on the
sailing calendar, the series of preliminary Acts has been developed to
ensure there is America's Cup competition in each year leading up to the
2007 Match. These Acts allow the teams to measure themselves alongside
their fellow competitors at each event, and keep race fans firmly focused
on America's Cup racing.
Each successive Act will take on increasing importance as the Match draws
nearer, and each is expected to be a ranking tool for the early rounds of
the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007.
What we currently think of as the America's Cup - the Louis Vuitton Cup,
and the Match itself - will be much shorter than what we've experienced in
the recent past. While these events were spread across five months over
the past four America's Cup cycles, they will be concentrated over just
three months in 2007, a short, sharp, intense period of racing.
Overall, the new schedule represents an important evolution for the
America's Cup. While the Cup season itself is much shorter, the leading
Acts ensure meaningful, dramatic, America's Cup racing takes place each
year, and allows the America's Cup to go 'on tour', visiting different
venues, and bringing the excitement and spectacle of this wonderful event
to new audiences.
In 2007, the final Act will be an opening Fleet race, for all the
competitors of the 32nd America's Cup. After that, the Challengers will
square off in the Louis Vuitton Cup, to determine who will race Team
Alinghi in the 32nd America's Cup Match. |
