New York Yacht Club Challenge for America’s Cup 37
The Challenge
On Thursday, May 6, New York Yacht Club submitted a challenge for the 37th America’s Cup to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. A draft Protocol accompanied the challenge, which would see the Cup Match take place in New Zealand during early 2024 in the AC75 monohulls used in America’s Cup 36.
“The competition for the 36th edition was thrilling,” said NYYC’s commodore, Christopher J. Culver. “Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, was a worthy winner.
“However, the New York Yacht Club, as the original trustee of the event and a participant in the most recent edition, has serious concerns about the future of this great competition. The cost of a competitive campaign, the lack of continuity in the class and the inability to plan beyond the current cycle have combined to create a prohibitive barrier to entry, which has manifested in the dwindling number of challengers and public interest. While we await further details on the location, timing and conditions for the 37th America’s Cup, we want to emphatically signal our enthusiasm for a multi-challenger event in 2024.”
NYYC’s draft Protocol features these key concepts:
- A multi-event schedule for the next four America’s Cups, which will enable teams, corporate partners and media to plan in advance, think beyond single campaigns, and maximize revenue opportunities.
- Enhanced and independent event management via the creation of an America’s Cup Board of Governors, which will provide continuity and impartial oversight.
- Consistency in design, starting with the confirmation of the AC75 as the class for the 37th America’s Cup.
- Stronger crew nationality rules to draw more interest and to promote friendly competition between foreign countries.
- Cost-control measures; a predictable, and shorter, three-year cycle; consistency in platform; an increase in one-design components; and a limit of one new boat per Cup cycle, all of which will make the America’s Cup more accessible and more sustainable.
“By issuing this challenge, along with a Protocol, we are presenting a path forward for the event, one that will provide it with the tools to thrive in the modern international sports marketplace,” says Culver.
NYYC’s Cup History
NYYC won the America’s Cup in 1851, created the recurring event in 1870, and successfully defended the Cup 26 times. In 1983, Royal Perth Yacht Club won the Cup. NYYC was a challenger in 1987, 2000 and 2003. With the creation of the American Magic syndicate, the club returned to the America’s Cup in 2021.
Britain’s Royal Yacht Squadron is the Challenger of Record for AC 37; NYYC is the second Challenger. ETNZ has been quiet since March.