Everything You Need to Know About the Boats, Teams, and Science Behind the Race

The America’s Cup, established in 1851, is the oldest active trophy in international sports and represents the pinnacle of competitive sailing. In this event, yacht clubs from various nations compete for the prestigious cup. The format pits the defending yacht club (known as the defender) against the challenger in a match race, with the defender holding the power to set the race’s location, date, rules, and boat design.

Why is it called the America’s Cup? Initially named the RYS £100 Cup, the trophy was worth £100, but after a mistake in engraving it as the “100 Guinea Cup,” it was named after the winning yacht, “America,” in the inaugural race around the Isle of Wight in 1851.

How does the competition work? Teams first compete in a series of regattas, culminating in the Louis Vuitton Cup, which determines the challenger for the main event. This year’s match will feature Team New Zealand (the defending champion) against Ineos Britannia, after the Britons earned the right to challenge by defeating Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. The format is a best-of-13 series, where the first team to win seven races takes the trophy.