America’s Cup: Evolution rather than revolution will define new protocol – Stuff.co.nz

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Team New Zealand and Britannia will be looking to build on the success of the foiling AC75s in the next America's Cup.

Expect evolution rather than revolution when the new protocol for the next Americas Cup is released on Wednesday.

Having missed the deadline to announce the venue for the 37th edition of the famous regatta, defender Team New Zealand and Sir Ben Ainslie's challenger of record Britannia, wont want to miss the deadline for the release of the key document they have been thrashing out for the last eight months.

Its a vital piece of paperwork that lays down the rules and parameters and comes with the competition well positioned for a much-needed period of consolidation.

INEOS Britannia

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After years of design switches that included ushering in the foiling era to sports oldest trophy, there is an agreement to remain with the radical AC75 monohulls for the next two editions.

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The boats captured the imagination of the sailors and the public for their debut in Auckland last summer and continuity is a key for the Cup to prosper.

Thats why the protocol will be more about refinement than reinvention.

After having just four teams involved last time, there is a real need to encourage new syndicates. Prospective outfits have been waiting on the details in this vast document before committing to a costly challenge for the Auld Mug.

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Team New Zealand will outline the rules for their defence of the America's Cup.

It will be fascinating to see how they interpret the protocol and who decides to jump on board for yachting's wildest ride.

Some of the big moves in the protocol have already been signalled - the retention of the class with a limit of one new boat in this cycle; tougher nationality rules to limit crew poaching; separate youth and womens regattas to be run in conjunction with the main event; these will be sailed in new 40-foot foiling monohulls that can also be used for testing and development.

Dont expect the venue to be revealed on Wednesday, nor the specific dates for the challenger series or the America's Cup match. There is likely to be a broad time frame indicated for these to be confirmed in.

Look for a more streamlined administration of the Cup with one event authority handling it, hopefully reducing the tensions between the defender and challenger of record that increased as Auckland 2021 wore on.

With an eye on cost containment and allowing new teams to catch up, there could be restrictions over allowing existing teams to sail their current full-sized Cup boats during the next year.

The America's Cup knows it has a good product - an event steeped in history that is also at the cutting edge of sailing technology and the protocol will look to reflect and enhance that.

There is a need to maximises its profile better, especially after the restrictions the global Covid pandemic wiped out build-up regattas last time.

Expect that to be rectified in this cycle as sponsors and billionaire backers look for more bang for their bucks with increased exposure.

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America's Cup: Evolution rather than revolution will define new protocol - Stuff.co.nz