37th America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand Tops Pre-Regatta in Jeddah
Emirates Team New Zealand continues to dominate the 37th America's Cup scene heading into the new year. At the recent second pre-regatta in Jeddah, Sauida Arabia, the Kiwis bested Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, taking the top spot once again.
The pre-regatta saw some intense sailing action, with the AC40 training and test yachts in use. European powerhouse Alinghi Red Bull Racing finished third, followed by the US team NYYC American Magic, Team Ineos Britannia, Sir Ben Ainslie's British contenders, and the French-German Orient Express Racing Team.
Bertarelli's Alinghi Red Bull Racing team may have grabbed third place, but Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's young Italian stars put on quite a show. At just 19 and 31 years old, the trio of Marco Gradoni, three-time Optimist World Champion, Nacra 17 Olympic champion Ruggero Tita, and Prada patriarch Patrizio Bertelli, made a strong showing.
Pre-regatta results, while meaningful, have no impact on the actual competition. Starting from August 29, 2024, competitions for the right to challenge New Zealand’s defending champions will kick off with the five challenger teams taking to the new AC75 Cup yachts. Then, from October 12 to 20, the big event will kick off, where the main competition between the defenders and the challengers will decide the 37th America's Cup winner.
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The 37th America's Cup will be held in a new venue for the first time in its 172-year history, Jeddah's Red Sea. The event will include participants from around the world and offer an opportunity for teams to test their skills inside the new AC75 Cup yachts.
The competition featured the likes of Emirates Team New Zealand, year after year reigning as the America's Cup defenders, along with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, led by Patrizio Bertelli. The battle between these two teams brought tense final clashes at every regatta.
An exciting beach club festival accompanied the second pre-regatta, providing additional amusement for fans and participants alike. The event also welcomed technology and innovation enthusiasts, showcasing the latest advancements in technology and sailing. In fact, the America's Cup bodes well for the adoption of renewable energy sources, being an excellent platform to promote sustainable energy initiatives.
After having completed six pre-regattas, Emirates Team New Zealand currently holds the top spot in the pre-regatta rankings. In addition, the team showed their dominance by securing a victory in each of the three races in the main match of the pre-regatta.
The America's Cup event informally started during 1851 in Cowes, England, between US yacht “America” and British yachts. The competition was originally known as the “Intercollegiate Regatta,” and to gain recognition, the winner named it the “America's Cup.” The prestigious competition has been contested ever since, connecting sailing enthusiasts from around the world.
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