Sailing: at what time and on which channel to watch the 37th America's Cup, which begins this Thursday in Barcelona

The 37th America's Cup trophy. MAXPPP – Franz Chavaroche

The Kiwis are on a mission for the treble. Who will be their challenger ? 

With Italy and the United States as more than serious contenders and a French challenge in ambush, the New Zealand title holder will have a lot to do to retain the oldest sporting trophy in the world: the America's Cup, whose first regattas begin Thursday in Barcelona.

The Emirates Kiwis narrowly won the final preliminary regatta held on the Spanish waters last week, just days before the start of the famous Louis Vuitton Cup. This other competition sponsored by the prestigious luxury brand is used to designate the official challenger to Team New Zealand, during the real America's Cup from October 12 to 21.

It begins with preliminary rounds, where all the challenges face each other in a duel twice, before semi-finals and a final which will finally determine the opponent of the New Zealanders. The Kiwis will participate in the first rounds, to optimize their boat, but not in the final phases. Winners in Bermuda in 2017 and then at home in Auckland in 2021, New Zealand are on course for an incredible hat-trick in Barcelona.

The battle is set to be tight

“We expected it to be tight and we struggled to manoeuvre properly, it's going to come down to nothing”, said New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling, after their narrow victory over Italy last week. “I think we were a little frustrated with the way we sailed (in the preliminary regatta final), but there are a lot of good things to take away from this,”, he added.

The Italians of Luna Rossa, already finalists at the America's Cup in Auckland in 2021, will be able to take their revenge on Thursday during the first day of the Louis-Vuitton Cup, where they face the Kiwis again. “Congratulations to New Zealand, it was a great race. We have a great boat, a good team, I think it's going to be a very interesting America's Cup,”, announced Italian helmsman Francesco Bruni.

1983: First defeat for the Americans

The first edition of the America's Cup took place in 1851 when the yacht of the New York Yacht Club won against the British of the Royal Yacht Squadron, giving its name to the famous trophy. The Americans then dominated the competition for over 100 years, until 1983, before Australia's historic and surprise success.

In 2024, the sailors of American Magic hope to renew the success of their illustrious elders. “The New Zealanders are the team to beat, their boat is very good and I think the Italians are on the same level, but you can see that all the teams are close to each other”, said Terry Hutchinson, American helmsman.

Follow on Canal + or on the America’s Cup Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as on www.americascup.com. 

The program of the 37th America’s Cup Barcelona

Firsts regattas starting Thursday in Barcelona, ​​to the final between the New Zealanders and the designated challenger, here is the program of the 37th America's Cup, the oldest sporting trophy in the world.

From Thursday, August 29 to Sunday, September 8 (Paris time, GMT+2): 2:00 p.m. to 17:00 Louis Vuitton Cup, preliminary rounds (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.).

From Saturday, September 14 to Thursday, September 19 (in Paris time, GMT+2): Louis Vuitton Cup, semi-finals (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

From Thursday, September 14 to September 26 to Monday, October 7 (in Paris time, GMT+2): Louis Vuitton Cup, final (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

From Saturday, October 12 to Sunday, October 27 (in Paris time, GMT+2): 37th America's Cup between Team New Zealand and the winning challenge of the Louis Vuitton Cup (2pm to 5pm)

France in ambush

Two other teams involved in the competition have reason to be hopeful. The British Ineos are led by skipper Ben Ainslie, the most decorated sailor in history with four Olympic gold medals. And the Swiss team from Alinghi Red Bull Racing, victorious in 2003 and 2007, moved to Barcelona two years ago to prepare as best they can, while working hard on the boat used in the regattas: an AC75 foiling monohull.

The last challenge in the America's Cup, the French team from Orient Express have a significant experience gap compared to the other teams, but are aiming to shake up the hierarchy established during the preliminary regattas. “We will have to maneuver well and make good starts”, explained one of the two helmsmen of the French challenge, Kevin Peponnet, 33 years old. “We must work even more on the simulator and also on the water, to come back stronger”, he added after the final preparation regatta in Barcelona, ​​where the French only won one duel… after the technical withdrawal of American Magic.