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HomeRegattaAmerisca's CupRoyal Yacht Squadron Confirmed as Challenger of Record for the 38th America's...

Royal Yacht Squadron Confirmed as Challenger of Record for the 38th America’s Cup

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As Emirates Team New Zealand celebrated their triumphant defense of the America’s Cup in Barcelona, the groundwork for the 38th edition of the prestigious event was already being laid. Team New Zealand’s chief operating officer, Kevin Shoebridge, confirmed that a challenge had been accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, making Royal Yacht Squadron the official Challenger of Record for the next America’s Cup.

While speculation suggests that Team New Zealand and Great Britain’s Royal Yacht Squadron will collaborate again, Shoebridge remained tight-lipped about the details of the new challenge, promising more information soon. As for the location of the next Cup, discussions have begun, but no decisions have been finalized.

“Hopefully, in the next week or two, we’ll put out a timetable on when decisions like that will be made,” Shoebridge said.

Ben Ainslie at the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Barcelona prize giving – photo © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup

For now, Team New Zealand can bask in the glow of their third consecutive America’s Cup win, an unprecedented achievement in the history of the regatta. Their victory in Barcelona further solidified their place as the benchmark team in the sport, with fans from around the world, and especially New Zealand, cheering them on.

Team New Zealand’s performance was enhanced by the second generation AC75 foiling monohulls, making for spectacular races despite the challenges posed by Barcelona’s conditions. In a highly competitive field of challengers, the Kiwis once again demonstrated their dominance, securing the Auld Mug for the fourth time in their illustrious history.

As they now look ahead to the 38th America’s Cup, Shoebridge emphasized that while this campaign was incredibly strong, the team will need to continue evolving to stay ahead of their competitors.

Ben Ainslie chats with Peter Burling after the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Barcelona © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup

“We have to improve with each campaign, and this one is no different,” Shoebridge reflected. “We haven’t thought past today, but we’ll figure it out before we leave at the end of the month.”

With Team New Zealand’s historic victory, only four nations—New Zealand, the United States, Australia, and Switzerland—have ever claimed the America’s Cup. The Kiwi team’s success cements their legacy as one of the sport’s greatest, with Shoebridge, now an America’s Cup Hall of Fame inductee, at the helm of this remarkable journey.

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