Peachy Ahoy: Know the Essentials: The Journey to the 35th America's Cup
The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series was a racing circuit featuring the best sailors in the world, competing on foiling, wingsailed catamarans - an updated version of the AC45 raced in the last series.
The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series was the first stage of competition in the 35th America’s Cup and began in the summer of 2015. Events were held in Portsmouth, UK, Gothenburg, Sweden, Bermuda, Muscat, Oman, New York City, USA, Chicago, USA, Toulon, France and Fukuoka, Japan.
Featuring all of the America’s Cup teams racing in foiling, one-design AC45F catamarans, the circuit was an early opportunity to put points on the board that carry forward into the next stage of the competition.
Overall ranking position in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series determine the starting points score of the teams in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers in 2017.
The Series concluded in Fukuoka, Japan in November 2016 with Land Rover BAR taking top honors and carrying 2 bonus points into the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers and ORACLE TEAM USA, as runner up, carrying 1 point. You can see the full results of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series here:
The ranking positions from the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series determine the seeding and bonus points for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers. Each competitor races every other competitor twice, scoring one point per win. The top four challengers advance to the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs. Should the winner of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers advance to the 35th America’s Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton, they will start the match with a one point advantage. If there are ties at the end of the round robin phase of racing, the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series standings will be used as the tie breaker. The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers are scheduled from May 26 to June 3.
The top four challengers from the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers will pair off in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs semi-finals. Each Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoff round is a first-to-five series. The winners of the two semi-final rounds will race in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoff final to determine the top challenger who will go on to compete against the Defender in the 35th America’s Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton. As the Defender ORACLE TEAM USA will not compete in any stage of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs. The semi-finals are scheduled for June 4 to June 8, and the finals from June 10 to June 12.
The winner of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs meets the Defender, ORACLE TEAM USA, in the 35th America’s Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton. If the team that wins the Qualifiers is in the Match (whether as the Defender or the Challenger), they begin with a one-point advantage - effectively this means that the opposing team must win 8 races to win overall. The first team to earn 7 points wins the 35th America’s Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton and takes home the oldest trophy in international sport. The Match is scheduled for June 17-18 and June 24-25. If necessary, racing will continue on June 26 and 27. You can find the full schedule of racing this summer here.
