The 37th Louis Vuitton America's Cup begins in Barcelona: the most accessible competition in its 173-year history
The Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta got off to an exciting start with the five challengers competing against the defender, the Emirates Team New Zealand.
The 37th edition of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup started in Barcelona on Thursday 22 August – a much anticipated event that marks a historic moment for the city and for the world of sailing.
This year’s event is the most accessible ever in the regatta’s 173 years of history, both for the teams participating, and for the general public, who’ll have the opportunity to follow the race up close.
During the first few days, there’ll be daily match races, where the boats will be battling it out one-to-one in four duels each day, starting at 2 pm CET. The two that come out on top will qualify for the Grand Final, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday 25 August.
The high-tech AC75 boats, competing against each other for the first time, promise to put on an unrivalled spectacle off the coast of Barcelona. This preliminary regatta is just the beginning of an exciting programme, one that will continue through to the final phase of the competition which will be in round robin format, and will run from Friday 29 August until 8 September.
The semi-finals will be taking place between 14 and 19 September, and the Grand Final will be held from 26 September to 7 October. All the races will be scheduled from 2 pm onwards, providing spectators with an excellent opportunity to follow the competition live from Barcelona’s beaches and viewpoints.
The event not only positions Barcelona as a world sailing centre, but also enhances its role as a global city that’s able host top-level sporting events of outstanding international importance.