America's Cup

This article is about the international yachting race and trophy. For other uses, see America's Cup (disambiguation). For the most recent race, see 2024 America's Cup.

America's Cup
The America's Cup trophy (ewer), photographed c. 1890–1915
SportSailing match race
Founded1851 (173 years ago) (1851)
Most recent
champion(s)
Most titles
Official websiteAmericasCup.com
Current sports event 2024 America's Cup

The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport.[1][2][3] America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy (known as the defender) and the other from the yacht club that is challenging for the cup (the challenger). The winner is awarded the America's Cup trophy, informally known as the Auld Mug. Matches are held several years apart on dates agreed between the defender and the challenger. There is no fixed schedule, but the races have generally been held every three to four years.

Any yacht club that meets the requirements specified in the Deed of Gift of the America's Cup has the right to challenge the yacht club that currently holds the cup. If the challenging club wins the match, it gains stewardship of the cup. From the first defence of the cup in 1870 until the twentieth defence in 1967, there was always only one challenger. In 1970 multiple challengers applied, so a Challenger Selection Series was held to decide which applicant would become the official challenger and compete in the America's Cup match. This approach has been used for each subsequent competition.[4]

The history and prestige associated with the America's Cup attracts the world's top sailors, yacht designers, wealthy entrepreneurs and sponsors. It is a test of sailing skill, boat and sail design, and fundraising and management skills. Competing for the cup is expensive, with modern teams spending more than US$100 million each;[5] the 2013 winner was estimated to have spent US$300 million on the competition.

The most recent 2024 America's Cup was held between the defending Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the Royal Yacht Squadron's INEOS Britannia from 12 October 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Both the 37th and 38th America's Cup matches are, or due to be, sailed by AC75 class yachts.

On the 19 October 2024, Emirates Team New Zealand won the Americas Cup against challenger of record INEOS Team Britannia in Barcelona, Spain. The final result was a 7-2 win for Emirates Team New Zealand, making the New Zealand team the only team in the foiling era to win the cup 3 times in a row.

  1. ^ "A Brief History of the America's Cup". America's Cup Event Authority LLC. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  2. ^ "America's Cup". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  3. ^ "About America's Cup". Sir Peter Blake Trust. 2 August 2014. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015.
  4. ^ "America's Cup: The rising cost of sailing's ultimate prize". Boat International. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  5. ^ Newton, Casey (3 September 2013). "Billionaire death race: inside America's Cup and the world's most dangerous sailboat". The Verge. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2019.