Could the Chinese also be in Barcelona for the America’s Cup?

New Zealanders have “sold” the America’s Cup, which is moving from New Zealand, its natural home, to Barcelona, Spain, in the heart of the Mediterranean. Business trumped the nationalistic spirit.

If you don’t know, whoever wins the America’s Cup, like the New Zealanders, gets it all. Has the right to the choices of event organization and related economic benefits.

The 37th America’s Cup will be held in September/October 2024 in Barcelona.

So far there are five teams registered:

Emirates Team New Zealand (New Zealand), holder

INEOS Britannia (Great Britain), challenger of record

Luna Rossa Prada Team (Italy)

Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Switzerland)

American Magic (USA)

Choosing an attractive and easier-to-reach location like Barcelona opens up new scenarios, not just economic ones. New teams are expected to join the five already registered. In fact, there is time until May 31, 2023 to register. And the more participants there are, the more the spectacle and business increases. It is estimated that at least three more teams could participate.

Let’s see who might be added to the five teams already certain.

Nations that could enter the Cup game

In the history of the America’s Cup there are several nations that have participated in several editions of the world’s oldest event. Let’s look at the major suspects.

France has the men, technology and resources to get into the European Cup game. It never won but made Cup history, starting with the legendary France of Baron Bich (inventor of the cream ball).

Spain, since it is racing at home. But not only that, Spain also has a good tradition of participation. And in 2007, in Valencia, he did not disfigure with Desafio Espanol where the legendary Luis Doreste, two-time Olympic champion, was in charge.

China if it wants to prove itself as a technological superpower. In 2007 there was a Chinese team, China Team, which had drawn sailors and technology from the French. It didn’t make much of an impression, but so many years have passed, and China has become the world’s technology leader as well as an economic superpower (and has done well in the ocean with Dongfeng in the Volvo Ocean Race). Why not seize this opportunity?

Australia, which has already won the Cup and has a huge sailing tradition. The problem of Australians is not sporting and technological skills, it is money. Since costs soared in 2010, they are struggling to find national companies that can bear sponsorship that passes the hundred million mark at least.

The outsiders

The Germans who do not have a great tradition in this field, but have already taken part, without much success, in a few editions.

Swedes. Same as the Germans.

An Arab country could be the surprise of the next Cup. They have the money; they can buy the technology. And the emirs have long since put their noses into sports, see European soccer teams.

The problem of the nationality of sailors

The problem is a different one. The rule regarding the nationality of crews in the 37th America’s Cup protocol says. “100% of each team’s crew is required to have a yacht club nation passport of the team as of March 17, 2021, or must have been physically present in that country (or, acting on behalf of that yacht club in Auckland, the site of AC36 events) for 18 months of the three years prior to March 17, 2021. As an exception to this requirement, there will be a discretionary provision that will allow a quota of foreigners in the crew of “Emerging Nations” teams.

This therefore does not exclude the possibility of having more teams of the same nationality (as had happened at the 2007 Cup with as many as three Italian teams entered): biggest clue, in this sense, the United States, which could field other surprises besides American Magic.

Reduced budget compared to the past

The budget is reduced from last year’s edition. The new regulations aim to limit costs precisely to encourage as many nations as possible to participate:

– only one AC 75 boat can be built

– limitations in the number of foils and components that can be built for AC75s

– the crew aboard the AC75 for racing will be reduced from 11 to 8 sailors

– starting software will be provided.

With this in mind, who will join the big five to create a more attractive America’s Cup? Follow-up in the next installment.

L.O.

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