The oldest trophy in sports is up for grabs again as the competition started today for the 35th America's Cup regatta in the Great Sound of Bermuda. Defending champion Oracle Team USA, supported by technology partner BMW, is sailing for its third America's Cup victory in a row.
The most technologically advanced yachts in the history of the sport competing for the Cup are a far cry from the original two-masted wooden gaff schooner "America," which won the first race around the Isle of Wight 166 years ago, securing the trophy and forever embellishing upon it the winning boat's name. Today's boats are called foiling catamarans and are 15-meter twin-hull vessels that at speed, ride out of the water and "fly" on "foils" at speeds up to 62 miles per hour.
BMW has contributed to Oracle Team USA with engineering expertise in aerodynamics and created an intuitive cockpit design that includes a steering wheel derived from BMW Motorsports automotive steering wheels. To "fly," the helmsman must change the angle of both foils and the rudder blades continuously depending on the course, direction of the wind, speed, and the other boats. BMW's steering wheel allows this intuitive use.
BMW previously participated with Oracle to form the BMW Oracle Team that won the America's Cup in 2010.
Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill said, “Our preparation for the 35th America’s Cup has been a long, intense journey. At Oracle Team USA we are excited to be getting onto the start line at last and can’t wait to line up against the other teams with the America’s Cup on the line. Our thanks go to our Technology Partner BMW for their great support and engineering expertise as we designed, built, and developed a boat capable of taking us to a third consecutive America’s Cup victory.”
BMW is also the Global Partner of the America's Cup Event Authority, the organization that holds the America's Cup regatta and qualifying and supporting races. In addition to providing support vehicles, the BMW logo will appear on all course markers and the stern plate of all competitors' yachts.
The Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifying races began today, Saturday, May 27th. In the preliminary rounds, each team competes twice against every other team, including defending champ Oracle Team USA. One point is awarded for each win. The best four challengers qualify for the playoffs.
At the end of today's races (May 27th), Oracle Team USA and Land Rover BAR are tied for first with three points
In the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs the four semi-finalists face off against each other in matches with a maximum of nine races each. The first boat to win five races moves on.
Finally, the best challenger goes against Oracle Team USA in the America’s Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton. The first team to reach seven points is the winner of the 35th America’s Cup.
The field that will compete to take on the defending champion Oracle Team USA includes: Artemis Racing from Sweden, Emirates Team New Zealand, Groupama Team France, Land Rover BAR from England, and Softbank Team Japan.
To find opportunities for live television coverage, visit, https://www.americascup.com/en/where-to-watch.html. In the U.S. most races will be broadcast on NBS Sports Network, NBC, or the NBC Sports App.
Fans can also follow the action on social media from:
Facebook: /AmericasCup
Twitter: @AmericasCup
Instagram: @AmericasCup
Yacht racing may not be everyone's favorite spectator sport, but this year, the boats are really fast, the technology is amazing, and there will be no shortage of BMW logos. With Land Rover also participating, there could be a showdown of premium automotive brands before this thing is over.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
