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Everything you need to know about the 37th America’s Cup

Follow the build-up to the 37th America’s Cup as the teams prepare to fight it out for the oldest sporting trophy in the world.

Which teams are in the 37th America’s Cup?

In 2021 four teams raced in fully foiling AC75 monohulls which were conceived specifically for the event by then Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand and Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

These same four teams return for the 2024 America’s Cup and will be joined by two additional teams, bringing the total number of entries up to 6.

Emirates Team New Zealand – America’s Cup Defender

As the current holder of the America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand will be racing again in the 37th America’s Cup. As the Defender, the Kiwis will be guaranteed a spot in the America’s Cup regatta itself.

Any other challengers will need to race each other in preliminary regattas for the right to be the single challenger in the America’s Cup regatta itself.

Emirates Team New Zealand represent the Royal Auckland Yacht Club in America’s Cup racing.

INEOS Britannia – America’s Cup Challenger of Record

The Challenger of Record is the name given to the first yacht club to challenge the holder of the America’s Cup once it has been won.

When Emirates Team New Zealand successfully completed their defence of the America’s Cup in 2021, the Royal Yacht Squadron immediately issued a challenge on behalf of Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Team UK (now called INEOS Britannia), so they are Challenger of Record for the 37th America’s Cup .

INEOS Britannia and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team has strengthened an exhausting relationship, with the British challenger standing to benefit from the technical and engineering experience of the multiple World Champion F1 team.

Luna Rossa perform a tight leeward mark rounding

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has a very long America’s Cup history having first competed in 2000 and has taken part in every Cup since (with the exception of the unique 2010 Deed of Gift match).

For the 36th America’s Cup Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli were the challenger of record. They also won the challenger selection series so it was this Italian team who took on Emirates Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup itself.

The team will return for the 37th America’s Cup though this time they are not the official challenger of record.

American Magic

In 2021 the New York Yacht Clubs’ American Magic was also competing, though their event was ultimately ruined by a capsize in the early part of the regatta . They did get the boat rebuilt but it never got back up to speed and they made an early exit.

The 2021 campaign marked the return of the New York Yacht Club to the America’s Cup. The NYYC held the America’s Cup from its inception in 1851 right the way through to 1983, when they were defeated by the Royal Perth Yacht Club’s Australia II .

American Magic have confirmed their entry into the 37th America’s Cup and will, once again, be representing the New York Yacht Club.

Alinghi Red Bull Racing out training in their training AC75, purchased from Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo: Alinghi Red Bull Racing media

Alinghi Red Bull Racing

Another team making a return to the America’s Cup scene after a long break will be Ernesto Bertarelli’s Alinghi team. The Swiss team won the America’s Cup in 2003 and then completed a successful defence in 2007.

However, a serious falling out over the potential rules for the next America’s Cup saw Alinghi taken to court by Larry Ellison and his BMW Oracle team, the 2010 America’s Cup was held between Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing in a Deed of Gift match that saw the teams fight it out in huge multihulls.

BMW Oracle won the contest and Alinghi stepped away from America’s Cup racing. Their return is a welcome one and their Cup history alongside their partnership with Red Bull Racing should see them a solid challenge from the off.

Orient Express Team France

The French entry to the 2024 America’s Cup was long rumoured but it was not until quite late in the day that they officially announced their intention to challenge.

It was in early 2023 that the official announcement came of a French AC entry, backed by Accor Group and its brands Orient Express and ALL-ACCOR Live Limitless.

As a fairly late challenge they will have a lot to do to be competitive.

What boats will be used in the 37th America’s Cup

The Protocol for the 37th America’s Cup has been released including the rules for the class of boat to be used in the next edition of the event. Once again the America’s Cup will be raced for in AC75s . These boats were first brought in ahead of the 36th America’s Cup so this will be their second outing.

The foiling monohulls will be slightly different, with rules being tweaked partly aimed at improving light wind performance and reducing crew numbers from 11 to 8.

Teams will only be allowed to build one AC75 and nationality rules are strict this time around requiring 100% of the race crew for each competitor to either be a passport holder of the country of the team’s yacht club or to have been physically present in that country for 18 months of the previous three years prior to 17th March 2021.

Emirates Team New Zealand saw success in 2017 in Bermuda with their Cyclors . These may well return for the 37th America’s Cup.

When it comes to the events, there will be up to three Preliminary Regattas, the first two raced in a new one-design class of AC40s , the last one at the Match venue in AC75s. The Challenger Selection Series and the America’s Cup Match will be held in 2024.

Barcelona, the venue for the 37th America’s Cup

Where will the 37th America’s Cup be held?

Barcelona, Spain was selected in 2022 as the venue for the 37th America’s Cup , marking the first time a New Zealand team has chosen to defend a Cup win overseas.

The home city of Emirates Team New Zealand and the venue for the 36th America’s Cup, Auckland, had an exclusive period in which to tender for the regatta immediately after the Kiwis’ successful defence in 2021, but the sums on offer were not enough, and Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton cast the net wider internationally after rejecting a NZ$99 million (£50 million) offer from the New Zealand government.

A number venues were mooted including: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Cork, Ireland; Malaga, Spain, but Barcelona eventually won out.

When will the 37th America’s Cup be raced?

The America’s Cup will be held in 2024 in Barcelona. Racing in the 37th America’s Cup Match itself, which is a best of 13 (first to seven) format will start on Saturday 12th October 2024 and could run all the way to the 27th October should all the races be needed to pick a winner.

The America’s Cup will be proceeded by the challenger selection series, which will see which of the five challenger gets the honour to race New Zealand for the Cup itself.

The stated aim was to hold the event in the September-October window, which will allow for the Olympic Games in Paris, France to conclude and also offers a decent range of weather with wind speeds usually around the 9-15 knot mark.

Match Racing

Though the America’s Cup was first raced for in 1851 ( and won by the schooner America from which the trophy gets its name), this race was between a fleet of boats. A challenge by the British in the 1870s was also conducted as a fleet race.

By the 1880s, following a protest from the British, the America’s Cup was decided in a head-to-head match race where two boats sail against each other.

Match racing is a particular skill and encourages aggressive manoeuvres using the rules to put your opponent at a disadvantage. This cut-and-thrust racing, where the only objective is to beat your opponent, has long been at the heart of America’s Cup racing and produces a thrilling spectacle.

You can catch all the latest America’s Cup news, analysis and videos right here on Yachtingworld.com

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22 May 2024

​Another podium for Qingdao - winner of Race 11: #SailConnected with SENA

24 May 2024

​OCEAN SPRINT RESULTS FOR RACE 11 REVEALED

23 May 2024

Podium complete for Race 11 after a nail-biting finish

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17 May 2024

​Penalty Points announced for Leg 6

10 May 2024

​​Meet the Crew: Laura Mark Jensen

​meet the clipper 2023-24 race crew: guido rispoli, ​​the scoring gate results - race 11: #sailconnected with sena., most popular.

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Live updates: NZ Sail Grand Prix at Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, Day One

NZ strategist Liv Mackay in practice at NZ SailGP. Credits: Image - Photosport; video - Newshub

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Placings: 1-Canada 10pts, 2-NZ 9pts, 3-GB 8pts, 4-USA 7pts, 5-France 6pts, 6-Switzerland 5pts, 7-Spain 4pts, 8-Denmark 3pts, 9-Australia 2pts

Overall: 1-NZ 28pts, 2-Canada 24pts, 3-GB 23pts, 4-France 21pts, 5-Australia 18pts, 6-USA 16pts, 7-Switzerland 14pts, 8-Denmark 10pts, 9-Spain 8pts

Great day for the Kiwis, with three top-two finishes. They have inside running towards the final, but two more races tomorrow before we get there. 

Some teams have work to do, with Australia suffering some damage, and GB and France battling for a spot in the final, behind Canada.

Join us again tomorrow for the second day of racing at Lyttelton.

Canada cross first, but NZ right on their heels, with GB an important third. USA next, then France.

Top speed for the race was 88.2kph by Canada

Canada and NZ head into the last gate, Canadians still ahead...

Canada ahead at the gate, NZ second and GB third. Kiwis split and have right of way next time they cross with Canada.

NZ and GB have all the speeed, and they are gaining on Canada. Mini match race between NZ and GB, but the Aussies have a broken rudder and trail in eighth.

Kiwis within 85 metres of Canada, British chasing them hard and now right on them.

Canada still ahead and NZ follow them around the fourth gate. GB third and France are now up to fourth.

Kiwis have dropped the Aussies and GB also move through into third.

Canada first around, but NZ and Australia have right of way over GB and are next around. They split from the Canadians and head down the right of the course.

The Kiwis may have edged ahead of GB, as they head into the gate

Canada into a big lead, GB second, NZ third

Canada head into Gate Two, but NZ now third, behind France. The French fall off the foils and suffer a penalty, after turning too close to the Aussies.

Big pack at the head of the field, but NZ off the back, serving their penalty. They move through the fleet to second, great recovery.

Spithill hits the line first and fastest for USA, with the Kiwis trailling at the back of the field.

One minute to go and NZ have taken a middle course for this start. They incur a boundary penalty...

Another seven legs with wind speed of 28kph.

Winds have become gustier through the course of the afternoon and the finish-line has moved as a result. France are having trouble with their boat, with only three minutes until the start of the next race.

Placings: 1-NZ 10pts, 2-Australia 9pts, 3-Canada 8pts, 4-GB 7pts, 5-USA 6pts, 6-France 5pts, 7-Switzerland 4pts, 8-Denmark 3pts, 9-Spain 2pts

Overall: 1-NZ 19pts, 2-Australia 16pts, 3-France & GB 15pts, 5-Canada 14pts, 6-Switzerland & USA 9pts, 8-Denmark 7pts, 9-Spain 4pts

NZ take the lead of the regatta, with the Aussies second, and France and GB battling for the third spot

NZ heading straight to the finish and will take the win. Great result for  their hopes of making tomorrow's final, beating Australia.

NZ now 71kph and lead by 250 metres, heading to the last gate, then a sprint to the finish

They round Gate Five ahead, Australia second and Canada third...GB have moved up the fleet to fifth, but France eighth

Kiwis leading downwind at 58kph, with Australia second. They've picked up a windshift and are now more than 100 metres clear.

Aussies follow Kiwis around fourth gate and almost crash. NZ only just recover from that turn, but Aussies have lost ground.

NZ and Australia on opposite sides of the course again and the Kiwis ahead now, Canada third... GB seventh and France eighth.

Australia have to dip under the Kiwis at the gate, so NZ lead around gate three

NZ dip below Australia, but will hold right-of-way next time they meet. Canada in third, then Denmack and France back in sixth, GB at the rear, so good news for the Kiwis.

Australia and NZ split to opposite sides of the course, Spain teeter and almost capsize. Denmark in third, same side as Australia.

Australia and NZ head the field into the second gate...

The fleet head towards the right layline and then Gate Two, still jockeying for positions.

NZ catch that start perfectly, Australia in the lead, but the Kiwis fastest on the line...

One minute siren sounds, with NZ at the right end of the field and one of the last to turn towards the line.

Two minutes until the start of Race Two, so very little time to reflect in this rapidfire format. Confirmation of seven legs again for this race, same as the first.

Placings: 1-France 10pts, 2-NZ 9pts, 3-GB 8pts, 4-Australia 7pts, 5-Canada 6pts, 6-Switzerland 5pts, 7-Denmark 4pts, 8-USA 3pts, 9-Spain 2pts

Good start from the Kiwis, as they try to nail a spot in tomorrow's final and only three boats progressing, but their nearest rivals are also right there in contention.

Kiwis have split from France and have just one manoeuvre, compared to two from their opponents, but France have too much speed and win the race.

NZ are second, 13 seconds back, and GB third.

French have lengthened their advantage again over the Kiwis, as they approach the sixth gate and head to the finish

France around the fifth gate first and go right, NZ head left, GB and Australia follow France. Canad and Denmark almost collide at the gate

NZ closing right up on France on the right layline

France round the fourth gate first, NZ go right, but the Aussies split left.

NZ closing on the French, now within 125m, GB and Australia dicing for third

USA and Switzerland have penalties for leaving the course

France have opened up a couple of hundred metres in the lead and NZ still second, with Australia third

Aussies tack in front of the Kiwis, France round first and NZ second, Australia, then GB

Kiwis have moved into second and gaining on the French upwind to the third gate.

Upwind, France in the lead, Australia second, NZ in fourth, behind Canada and closing on the French.

France lead around gate two, Australia next, NZ close on the leaders

Canada hold the lead at the first mark, but the field still spread across the track as they turn towards gate two. NZ back in seventh, France take the lead...

Clean start by all, with Canada in the middle and NZ at the right, trying to round the field.

Timing is everything here, as the boats round towards the line.

Less than two minutes and boats are milling around the start area, preparing to unleash their pre-start manoeuvres. One minute to go now...

3:36pm - The dolphins have gone and racing will begin in six minutes.

3:30pm - Still no sailing on the course, as dolphins pass through...

3:11pm - The first race has been delayed, after a dolphin sighting near the course. SailGP is very conscious of preserving the ocean and its wildlife, so the dolphins must come first.

3:02pm - The format for racing this weekend will see three races today and two more tomorrow, before the three-boat regatta final.

Beautiful day at Lyttelton with a nice wind - perfect conditions.

Just under eight minutes to the start of Race One.

NZ driver Peter Burling is downplaying the Aussie rivalry, despite their complaints that the Kiwis snuck out on the course for a quick reconnaissance.

The defending champions are there purely for nuisance value today, as they have clinched their spot in the Grand Final and can only influence who their opponents will be.

Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of NZ Sail Grand Prix at Christchurch's Lyttelton Harbour.

After COVID-19 delays, New Zealand finally gets to host a leg of the sailing world series on home waters and this particular regatta - the penultimate event on the 2022/23 scheduled - couldn't come at a better time for the home team.

With two-time defending champions Australia well clear at the top of the standings and assured of a spot in the decider at San Francisco in May, the Kiwis currently occupy second spot, with the field snapping at their heels.

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Only three teams will contest the final, so Peter Burling and Blair Tuke will be keen to take advantage of their local knowledge to clinch one of those spots.

Like Burling and Tuke, many of the other leading sailors are well know to NZ fans through their involvement in America's Cup, so established rivalries will come to the fore, especially old mates Jimmy Spithill and Sir Ben Ainslie.

Join us at 3pm for all the onwater action.

TAB Odds: NZ $3, Australia $3.40, France $5.50, Great Britain $7, Denmark $13, USA $15, Canada $17, Spain $26, Switzerland $31

Overall standings: 1-Australia 76 points, 2-NZ 64, 3-France 63, 4-Great Britain 61, 5-Denmark 57, 6-USA 53, 7-Canada 49, 8-Spain 27, 9-Switzerland 25

'Redheaded stepchild': Spithill's colourful relationship with Kiwis continues at SailGP

Alex Powell

Jimmy Spithill is the man Kiwi sailing fans have long loved to hate and he's relishing that tag once again, as SailGP makes its New Zealand debut at Lyttelton this weekend.

Spithill was at the helm as the man responsible for one of the greatest heartbreaks in New Zealand sporting history.

In 2013, at 8-1 down in the America's Cup final at San Francisco, Spithill masterminded a fairytale recovery effort, as Oracle Team USA came back to stun Team NZ to snatch the 'Auld Mug'.

Team NZ got their own back in Bermuda four years later, but Spithill's status as the archetypal sporting villain will forever endure - not that he minds.

As SailGP makes its belated debut in New Zealand, the Aussie is back in the heart of enemy territory.

Despite his Australian roots, Spithill is the chief executive and driver of Team USA, and will compete on Kiwi waters once again at a vital time in the campaign.

Back in Aotearoa, he's been reminded how he's viewed by Kiwis. 

"A guy came up to me on the street the other day and said, 'You're basically the redheaded stepchild of New Zealand'," Spithill joked. "I took it as a compliment, obviously.

"I've got a lot of friends, fans and feedback here, for sure. It's a great place.

"I've never been to Christchurch, [it's my] first time down here, it's an amazing city… the forecast looks unreal. I'm pretty pumped to get out there."

With only one regular leg left before the Grand Final in May, Spithill's Team USA sit sixth in SailGP's standings, 24 points off first-placed Australia and nine points adrift of the top three.

A good performance this weekend will boost USA's chances of reaching the finale, needing a top three finish to qualify, but even with it all to do over the coming days, Spithill knows his side have what it takes.

"There's a lot of points still available, just in the amount of racing that's there," he added. "With the penalty system, any time there's damage or a collision, there's also a lot of points that can be lost - quickly.

"From my point of view, it's possible, we have to believe that, but at the end of the day, if you think too far ahead to the finish-line, it's a waste of energy. You've really got to focus on one race at a time, that's the situation we're in.

"We're one of a few teams that have shown we can actually win this season. We've had a few good results, we've had some bad ones too.

"San Francisco is a big one for us. We'd love to get ready for that one and come out firing.

"Who knows, we'll see what can happen. Things can change really quick in SailGP."

Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023 — how to watch and what to look out for

The sight of big yachts tearing around Sydney Harbour's blue water with crews scrambling over the deck at the start of the annual Sydney to Hobart race, can be thrilling, if somewhat confusing, watching.

Where is the start line? Are those boats going to crash into each other? What happens if someone falls off?

Do crew members get any sleep during the race? What prizes are they racing for? What do you mean the first over the finish line is not considered the top prize?

Wait, what ... there is a boat called Imalizard?

So many questions!

Let's try and answer them.

Where do they start?

This year, the 78th running of the Sydney to Hobart, has a fleet of over 100 boats ranging from supermaxis (typically boats over 21 metres) to smaller yachts.

There are two starting 'lines' with the larger yachts on the northern line just north of Shark Island, and the smaller boats on the southern line.

Two rounding marks off Sydney Heads compensate for the distance between the lines, before the fleet heads to sea on the ocean voyage to Hobart, 628 nautical miles (1,163 kilometres) away.

When does it begin?

It's already started!

At 1pm AEDT on Boxing Day (December 26) the ceremonial cannon was fired, marking the start of the race.

How can I watch it?

Race sponsor Rolex says the start will be broadcast live on the Seven Network throughout Australia and live and on demand on the 7Plus app.

Internationally, the race will be available through YouTube on the CYCATV channel or via Rolex Sydney Hobart's Facebook page.

If you are in Sydney and on the water, spectators who wish to watch the start but not follow the fleet are advised to stick to the "western side of the harbour".

Good vantage points for spectator boats include "Taylors Bay, Chowder Bay, Obelisk Bay and North Head on the west and Rose Bay, Watsons Bay, Camp Cove and South Head to the east".

According to organisers, the harbour will be "very crowded and traffic can be chaotic, so stay alert, follow the advice of race officials and remember to keep well clear of the exclusion zone between 12pm and 2pm".

Will there actually be some near misses?

The start is when things can get feisty, with crews trying to get their yachts into the best position before the cannon shot and on the run to get around Sydney Heads and out into the South Pacific Ocean.

This is when near misses and actual collisions can happen, with spicy language occasionally making it onto the live television broadcast thanks to cameras on the boats.

Members of the public watching from boats are told to stay in a "zone" away from race competitors, but that can still make for more potential near misses as the competitor boats weave across the water trying to find their best way into the start line at just the right time.

All in all it can look like chaos and often results in protests being lodged by crews who allege other teams of a wide range of infringements of race rules, across the entire course all the way to the finish.

Sometimes, if protested against, boats can perform "penalty turns" while at sea as punishment. Both Wild Oats XI and Comanche performed penalty turns last year following a scrape in Sydney Harbour.

Decision to make — follow the coast or head out to sea

Once out of the harbour, the fleet then begins to make its way down the east coast of Australia, and are faced with a decision — to either stay close to the coast or to go further into open water where the East Australia Current can carry them. The amount of wind dictates this decision.

After navigating the NSW South Coast, it is then into Bass Strait, where the worst conditions are generally found, with strong winds and big waves.

Simply surviving is the key here. Equipment failure and breakage ends many a team's race during this stretch.

With Bass Strait successfully navigated, another choice needs to be made — sail close to the coast of Tasmania where they will find better water — or further out where winds are heavier.

Whichever the way, soon boats will be rounding "Tasman Light" and crossing Storm Bay. Then, they'll pass the Iron Pot at the mouth of the River Derwent . 

After a crawl up the often windless Derwent, boats will cross the finish line at Castray Esplanade before eventually settling in Hobart's Constitution Dock.

What are they racing for?

There is no prize money for the winners. 

Instead, crews race for trophies in a number of categories , the main events for casual observers being Line Honours (first across the line) and Overall (winner decided based on handicap).

The first yacht across the line wins the JH Illingworth Challenge Cup, while the Overall winner on handicap wins the Tattersalls Cup.

The Overall winner is considered a truer indication of sailing skill . The boats are smaller and lighter and therefore not as naturally fast. Getting them to Hobart is tougher. Handicaps (time adjustments) are calculated by a range of factors such as the weight and length of the boat.

Most of the time, Overall honours are won by a smaller, slower boat, which outdoes its larger opposition when time is adjusted for size and other factors.

The reigning Line Honours victor is Andoo Comanche, which won in a time of 1 day, 11 hours, and 15 minutes, the boat's 4th line honours victory.

The reigning Overall winner is Celestial, which finished 2022's race in 2 days, 16 hours, and 15 minutes.

In 2017, LDV Comanche set a new line honours record, finishing first in 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds, beating Perpetual Loyal's record of 1 day, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds, set the previous year.

Who can race?

The minimum age to compete in the race is 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit.

Each yacht generally carries between six and 24 crew members, the average across the fleet being 10 to 11.

The head of the crew is the skipper and often the skipper also owns the yacht. Other positions on board include the "helmsperson, navigator, tactician, trimmers and foredeck person, or for'ard hand", race organisers explain.

Two-hander boats (a category introduced in 2020) attempt the voyage with only two crew members.

After the 1998 race, in which six sailors died, five yachts sank, more than 60 yachts retired and 55 sailors had to be rescued by helicopter, at least 50 per cent of crew members in a team have to have completed a sea safety survival course.

All competitors must have completed an approved "Category 1" equivalent passage. One advertised course for Sydney to Hobart wannabe sailors offers five days of "continuously sailing" across a 500 nautical mile passage off the New South Wales coast, starting at $1,795 per person.

Conditions on board can be cramped and extreme, with very rough seas often battering yachts along the way. If a crew member goes over the side, that means teams have to circle back to collect them.

Winner of the 2022 Two-Handed Division Rupert Henry said for his two-person team, "we only manage around four hours max of sleep each".

"We know when each other needs to crash so we do it then."

As for people who easily get sea sick, perhaps this is not the hobby for you.

How can I follow the boats online?

You can follow the race on an online tracker , which shows the positions of yachts as they move south, via a GPS device on each vessel. 

As the race goes on, you can see the course charted by crews — unless of course the boat's GPS device gets switched off, rendering it invisible to spectators and other competitors — an accusation that was levelled at Wild Oats XI in 2018 by the owner of Black Jack.

Yachts can also be tracked on the Marine Traffic website .

Imalizard, Eye Candy and Millennium Falcon — what's in a name?

If you are the kind who chooses a favourite yacht based on the name, there are some good ones this year, including Imalizard, Disko Trooper, Millennium Falcon, Lenny, Mister Lucky, Pacman, Toecutter, Extasea, two yachts with Yeah Baby in their names, Chutzpah, Ciao Bella and Eye Candy.

Not among 2023's starters is Huntress, which came to grief last year after breaking a rudder, with the crew abandoning the vessel and it later drifting and  washing up on a remote Tasmanian beach , leading to a dispute over the salvage rights .

Main contenders for the Overall title are Alive (2018 winner, a Tasmanian boat), Chutzpah, Celestial, Smuggler and URM, as well as supermaxis LawConnect, SHK Scallywag, Andoo Comanche and Wild Thing.

Barring disaster, the Line Honours winner will almost certainly be one of the four supermaxis.

This yacht has raced under several names, previously racing as Perpetual LOYAL, Investec LOYAL and InfoTrack.

In 2016, Perpetual LOYAL became the fastest-ever boat to complete the race, setting a new race record of 1 day, 13 hours, 31 minutes, and 12 seconds. That record has since been broken by LDV Comanche in 2017. Investec LOYAL also sailed to victory in 2011.

Previous owner Anthony Bell declared after his 2016 victory that he would be selling the boat. It was picked up by tech entrepreneur Christian Beck, with the boat's name changed to InfoTrack.

Now called LawConnect, conditions haven't suited the heavier yacht in recent years. It is yet to win a Sydney to Hobart under its new name and ownership but is always among the leaders' pack. It recently defeated Comanche in the Big Boat Challenge, a traditional lead-up event to the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Andoo Comanche

John Winning Junior took over from Jim Cooney as skipper of the newly named 'Andoo' Comanche last year, and had instant success, beating its rivals to a 4th Line Honours victory. In 2017, it defeated Wild Oats for Line Honours, setting a race record in the process, but only after a controversial protest. It also claimed Line Honours in 2019.

Andoo Comanche will enter as hot favourite for Line Honours this year after installing a brand new million-dollar sails package and winning the Cabbage Tree Island race – it did however finish second to LawConnect in this month's Big Boat Challenge .

SHK Scallywag

Scallywag looms as a wild card in this year's race, and on its day can challenge the likes of Comanche. Scallywag is lighter and narrower than Comanche, and is better suited to lighter wind conditions.

It has undergone modifications during the winter and will have a pair of Americas Cup sailors on board in Luke Payne and Luke Parkinson. Scallywag has never won a Line Honours victory.

Wild Thing 100

Wild Thing 100 will be the newest supermaxi to be launched when it makes its debut in this year's race.

Owner Grant Wharrington has modified Stefan Racing, a Botin 80, which he sailed to fourth over the line in 2021 and 6th last year. Under the extension, the yacht has been rebranded as Wild Thing 100. Wharrington took Line Honours in 2003 with his previous Wild Thing, but the following year, whilst leading the fleet to Hobart, she lost her canting keel and capsized in Bass Strait.

Some other Sydney to Hobart race facts:

Thirteen of the last 17 Line Honours victories have been claimed by Comanche or Wild Oats Wild Oats XI is not participating this year, the second time in three years the nine-time Line Honours winner has not raced. Skipper mark Richards said he'd be spending the time "relaxing somewhere with a beer in my hand" There are 21 two-handed crews (two-person team) competing The smallest boats in the fleet are a pair of 30-footers, Currawong and Niksen. Both are two-handers and Currawong is crewed by two women, Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham The oldest boat to enter this year's race is Christina, built in 1932 There are 10 international crews competing in this year's event It is tradition that the skipper of the boat first in to Hobart jumps into the chilly water of the Derwent

When does the race finish?

The Line Honours winner is likely to come in around 48 hours after the start, but this is very much dependent on the weather —  especially in the 22.2-kilometre final stretch up the Derwent River to the finish line.

This is when the wind can drop away and it becomes a crawl , with every trick in the book pulled out to make headway.

Yachts can finish at any time of the day or night.

In 2021, Black Jack crossed the line at 1:37am on December 29, followed by LawConnect at 4:11am and SHK Scallywag about 20 minutes after that.

In 2019, Comanche came in at a more reasonable time of 7:30am on December 28, with InfoTrack about 45 minutes later.

"It matters not whether it is in the wee hours of the morning or the middle of the day — a boisterous and enthusiastic crowd is on hand to clap and cheer the winning yacht to its berth," organisers say.

But the cheering was not just reserved for the first finishers.

In the 2022 race, the final yacht — Currawong — timed its finish impeccably, coming in just before midnight on December 31 , to be met with rousing applause from crowds at Hobart's wharf for New Year's Eve celebrations and an accompanying fireworks display.

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Latest News: Translated 9 Finally Home – McIntyre OGR

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× The live OGR tracker and app will be available from 1 August 2023. In the meantime, we are including a link to the live tracker page of the Golden Globe Race as an example. This is the 2022 edition but all of the features are still active if you have never seen a live map before. You can play/experiment with the top bar features and if you look at the sliding bar at the bottom you can actually replay the video of the race tracker from start to finish. We will have tutorial videos later on how to get the most out of this live tracker.

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Swiftsure races moved to later start in hopes of catching stronger wind

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Spectators who plan to line Clover Point and Dallas Road to watch the start of races in the 79th Swiftsure International Yacht Race on Saturday can sleep in a little later.

The first race — the Swiftsure Lightship Classic — is set to begin at 10 a.m., an hour later than previously, in hopes of catching more wind. Subsequent races begin 10 minutes apart.

Saturday’s start time was changed because “generally the wind doesn’t come up until around 10 a.m.,” said Kirk Palmer, director of the race, which is presented through the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.

Ideally, racers would like “the classic Victoria westerly blowing in fairly quickly,” he said.

Boats began arriving at the Inner Harbour on Thursday for the races. Docks will be open until 5 p.m. today for people to view boats and chat with participants.

The first boats, competing in shorter inshore races, are expected to return late afternoon on Saturday, crossing the final marker running from the tip of the Ogden Point breakwater and across the water to Department of National Defence land on the Esquimalt side.

Boats then head to the Inner Harbour.

The breakwater and Ship Point are good locations to see returning boats on Saturday and Sunday.

A tent will be set up at Clover Point on Saturday morning to offer commentary to spectators for about an hour until the boats are out of sight.

About 135 boats are entered in the races, up by 15 per cent from 117 last year. Swiftsure events were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and resumed in 2022.

The 118-nautical-mile Hein Bank Race, which only attracted eight boats in 2023, has been dropped this year, with Hein Bank competitors entering the popular 101.9-nautical-mile Cape Flattery race in a specific division.

“What you are going to see is there are some extremely fast boats now in the Cape Flattery Race,” Palmer said.

Also new is a white mooring buoy with a mast and solar-powered light anchored off Swiftsure Bank to serve as a marker and give racers a physical object to sail around.

Previously, boats sailed around an imaginary marker identified by specific co-ordinates.

About 65 per cent of participants in the longer races are from the U.S., Palmer said. Shorter inshore races typically see 80 per cent of participants from local waters.

Swiftsure is an established shot in the arm for tourism as the summer season starts, with up to 900 crew members arriving along with spectators and family members, booking hotel rooms and going to restaurants.

Recently retired couple Owen Thistle and Fiona Curthoys of Calgary, who keep their 40-foot Kerkyra in ­Ladysmith, are racing in the Juan de Fuca race with daughter Cailyn Thistle, friends Wayne and Nora Kushneryk and daughter Katie, and Pat Fenton to form an all-Calgary crew.

This will be Curthoys’ second competition, while Thistle has raced in Swiftsure events about seven times, competing the first time in 2000 as a crew member in the Lightship Classic. “That was part of what sparked my interest in getting a boat.”

Racing provides useful sailing experience, helping sailors become better prepared for any eventuality, such as heavy weather, and is a good way to really get to know a boat, Thistle said.

“We obviously want to do well in the race but it is also largely about having the experience with some family and friends.”

To follow the races and for more information:

• CHEKPLUS.ca is running a live broadcast starting at 9:55 a.m. Saturday hosted by CHEK anchor Tess van Straaten and Swiftsure commentator Dale Gann from the yacht club.

• Viewers with smartphones can download Kwindoo LiveView from the App Store for iPhones or Play Store via Google. To follow boats, open the app and search for Swiftsure2024.

• To follow on your computer, go to kwindoo.com and select “Events,” type in the event name “Swiftsure” and select Swiftsure 2024 International Yacht Race.

• Swiftsure’s Facebook page will provide real-time updates, photos, and essential information for attendees.

• Go to Swiftsure.org.

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Breathtaking cost and spec of mega-yacht used by Lewis Hamilton at F1 Monaco GP

Yachts routinely steal the show during the F1 grand prix weekend.

The yachts docking in the harbour for the F1 Monaco Grand Prix have turned heads - with a couple particularly impressing.

A yacht named Evrima, owned by Ritz-Carlton, is being used by Lewis Hamilton , George Russell and Toto Wolff as part of their partnership with Mercedes .

Evrima is more of a floating luxury hotel than a boat.

The biggest yacht at the Monaco Grand Prix (so far) is actually owned by the Ritz-Carlton. • 149 Cabins • Pools, Spa & Gym • Rooms cost $10,000 to $100,000+ It's essentially a luxury cruise — you spend a few days in France and then dock in Monaco for the race. Pretty crazy. pic.twitter.com/7aGVIs5Peg — Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 23, 2024

Guests have voyaged around France before docking in Monaco for the coolest weekend of the year.

Rooms cost $10,000 to $100,000 for holidaymakers at this time of year.

If you want to charter Evrima, it will set you back $2.2m for a week.

It boasts 149 rooms, a private terrace for each suite, an infinity pool and even an onboard therapist.

It has direct access to the seawater, and watersports, from its deck.

Things are revving up for the Monaco Grand Prix on this weekend 🏁🏎️🛥️🇲🇨 Last year it was a Ferrari F40 on The Deck of Super Luxury Yacht and this year the 170' (52m) SEVEN SINS is turning heads with a breathtaking Bugatti Chiron on board. 🏁🏎️🛥️🥂🇲🇨 @Bugatti #F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/m2LgeThsl0 — Kalpesh Mungara (@KalpeshP911) May 24, 2024

Elsewhere, another yacht named Seven Sins caused a commotion because there is a Bugatti Chiron onboard.

The Seven Sins can be chartered for a week at a much more reasonable $300,000 but that doesn’t come with the Bugatti!

The car itself is worth around £2.5m and, now, there is one in full view in Monaco harbour during the F1.

Most famously, when Kimi Raikkonen was forced to retire early from the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, rather than go back to his team garage he instead walked straight to the harbour to find his yacht.

Moments later, he was spotted lounging in the sun onboard his private yacht with his friends - with the F1 race going on without him.

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The most iconic viewing experiences of F1's visit to Monaco

M ONACO -- The Monaco Grand Prix is unlike any other event in the world of sport. The glamour, history and sheer absurdity of the race combine to offer an experience that sits atop the bucket list of many Formula One fans.

Despite its reputation, attending the race is not as expensive as you might think, with general admission tickets for La Rocher (the hill overlooking the final two corners) costing €199 for race day or just €75 for Friday practice.

But what if money is no object? What if you want to experience the race from the most exclusive and desirable locations possible? Well, you might find yourself at one of the places on this list -- but be warned, it mostly won't come cheap.

Watching from a yacht

Monaco's Port Hercule, skirted by the racetrack on two of its three sides, acts as a magnet for the Mediterranean's superyachts each May. Its 160,000 square metres of liquid real estate transforms into the ultimate playground for the rich and famous, making it among the most sought-after places to watch a sporting event anywhere in the world.

- Watch the Monaco Grand Prix all weekend on ESPN networks

On a race weekend, a berth in Port Hercule can cost anywhere between €8,000 and €128,000 depending on location and the size of boat, and there is a €3,000 fee just to enter the harbour. The most expensive positions offer views of the track between the Nouvelle Chicane and the Swimming Pool complex, while countless other berths will see your yacht parked up without a sightline to the circuit.

The very biggest boats have no choice but to moor on "The T" behind the Swimming Pool grandstand, with their bows pointing out to sea. In recent years, the largest yacht in the harbour has been Faith, a 316-foot leviathan worth an estimated $200 million.

According to media reports in 2020, Faith was sold by Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll to Canadian billionaire Michael Latifi, the father of former Williams racing driver Nicholas and chairman of Sofina Foods.

Details of Faith can be found online , including its seasonal charter rate of €1,600,000 per week. That money not only buys you a lot of yacht for seven days, it also comes with a list of amenities that would make a number of Monaco's five-star hotels look rather ill-equipped.

The five-storey floating palace houses a cinema, spa, swimming pool, massage room, steam room, hammam, gym and, rumour has it, a snow room. It has seven bedrooms that can sleep up to 12 guests, a VIP stateroom to entertain friends and an elevator that conveniently links its five decks.

But if you're not a multibillionaire, there are cheaper ways to get on the water over race week. A number of companies offer yacht access during the track action, with prices starting at around €850 for a Friday, including a meal on a tri-deck yacht, to €6,000 for the same experience on race day.

Overnight accommodation on a yacht during the weekend will set you back anywhere between €23,000 and €28,000, according to the prices listed by F1's famous party-throwers Amber Lounge. Once the track action is done for the day, Amber Lounge also boasts a "€1.5 million party" in the gardens of Le Meridien Hotel. A place on a shared table at the Amber Lounge party starts at €1,375, but those wanting to grab a spot close to the party's most famous attendees, including Pamela Anderson and Daniel Ricciardo , need to fork out $70,000. Amber Lounge claims that the champagne flows all night, with a nine-litre bottle available on request, which requires a crew of four people to carry it to your table and open it.

Watching from the Hotel de Paris

For a more traditional experience, the Hotel de Paris, situated at the highest point of the F1 circuit overlooking Casino Square, represents the Grande Dame of Monaco hospitality. The hotel was opened in 1864 by the Société des Bains de Mer, a state-owned development group that still owns the hotel today and is also responsible for the running of the famous Monte Carlo Casino across the square.

The modern-day hotel, which benefited from a $280 million renovation in 2019, has 207 rooms and is among the most prestigious properties in the principality. While the hotel goes to great lengths to protect the privacy of its visitors, previous guests are known to include Frank Sinatra, Michael Jordan and Lady Gaga.

Over the race weekend, the hotel insists on a four-night minimum stay with prices starting at €18,000 -- albeit not necessarily with a view of the track. With two days to go before this year's grand prix, the last rooms still available were listed at €10,500 per night (or €42,000 for the four nights).

The two largest suites, named after Princess Grace (983 square metres) and Prince Rainier III (830 square metres), are marketed on the basis of "those who have to ask can't afford," but reportedly command a nightly rate between €45,000 and €51,000 away from the race weekend. Over the Monaco Grand Prix, you can expect those prices to multiply. For your small fortune, you'll get two bedrooms, a private rooftop swimming pool and an expansive terrace with views over Monaco.

If your budget doesn't stretch to staying at the Hotel de Paris on race weekend, you can still get a taste for the hotel's hospitality at one of its three restaurants overlooking the track. The most famous of the three is Alain Ducasse's Le Louis XV, which carries three Michelin stars.

A four-course menu on the trackside terrace will set you back €500 per person on Friday, €800 per person on qualifying day and a whopping €1,800 per person on race day -- and that's before you dive into the wine list.

All the restaurants linked to the Hotel de Paris benefit from its cavernous cellar, which was carved into the bedrock under the property in 1874. The current cellar houses the finest wines known to humanity, with a remarkable stock of more than 350,000 bottles.

During World War II, part of the cellar was walled up to protect 20,000 bottles of vintage Lafite, Rothschild, Petrus and Cheval Blanc. Broken glass was scattered in the corridors leading up to the sealed compartment in the hope it would deter any would-be raiders from finding the secret stash.

When the temporary wall was removed in 1945, one of the hotel's most famous visitors, Winston Churchill, was on hand to ensure the very best bottles had survived.

Watching from terraces

As one of Europe's most desirable tax havens, Monaco has the dubious honour of being the world's most densely populated sovereign state. In order to house so many multi-millionaires in such a small amount of space, property developers have increasingly built upward to maximise returns on small plots of land, resulting in a concrete jungle built into the hillside.

That's good news for those hoping to get a good vantage point over the two-mile Monaco circuit, as a number of terraces in the highest tower blocks are available to rent over the weekend. A view from one of the larger apartment buildings overlooking the first corner starts at €650 for Friday access and rockets up to €3,500 for the entire weekend.

Views of the famous Fairmont Hairpin -- the tightest corner in F1 -- are also available from the very hotel that gives the corner its name. A suite with a balcony will set you back €3,700 for the weekend and comes with optional evening yacht parties at an additional €700 to €900 per night.

Rising above it

Believe it or not, one of the best views of Monaco on a race weekend is entirely free -- although you'll need a pair of high-powered binoculars to see the cars. Tete de Chien ("dog's head" in English) is the name given to the huge cliff face hanging above the principality and it costs precisely €0 to access.

Standing 550 metres above the principality (and across the border in France), a hike to the top of the cliff will provide spectacular views of the harbour and the possibility to make out small slithers of racetrack between the buildings. You'll likely have no idea what's going on below, but with fresh air in your lungs and a saving of several thousand Euros in your pocket, it's a small price to pay.

More From Forbes

Bluegame’s luca santella on america’s cup foiling hydrogen chase cats.

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The Bluegame BGHSV, Bluegame Hydrogen Support Vessel, is the answer to current America's Cup ... [+] champion Team Emirates New Zealand's request for each challenging team to build at least two 10+ meter hydrogen powered foiling chase boats capable of no less than 170 nm range at 25 knots with a top speed of 50 knots. This is the flying boat that will assist the New York Yacht Club American Magic race boat during the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona beginning in August.

From August 22nd through October 27th, all eyes in the sailing world will be focused on Barcelona for the 37th America's Cup sailing race. The oldest international sports competition still going strong, the challenge upholds many traditions. This year, however, competing teams are working with a number of changes, one of which affects design of the chase boats that assist the race boats.

The new protocol was directed by the current champion, Team Emirates New Zealand. It requires each team to build a minimum of two 10+ meter hydrogen fuel cell powered chase boats capable of sustaining a minimum speed of 25 knots for no less than a 180 nautical mile range, and hit a top speed of 50 knots.

With design by Bluegame Head of Project Strategy Luca Santella and nautical engineer Mirko Oprandi, ... [+] and hull design by Philippe Briand, the Bluegame HSV, Hydrogen Support Vessel, greets onlookers with a dramatic bow profile. The boat measures 10.80 meters in length, with a 4.20 meter beam and a weight of 5500 kilograms.

The results are stunning, particularly in the case of the New York Yacht Club's American Magic chase boat designed and built in Italy by Bluegame , the eccentric, nonconformist, trendsetting division of Sanlorenzo Yachts.

Bluegame, founded by Luca Santella in 2005, was tapped by the American Magic team for the build in August of 2022. Putting his 35 years of sailing experience to work, he embraced the challenge. Sailing all of his life and in all of the most important events in the world, he explains that the only event he has not participated in is The America's Cup. An Olympic sailor, with an older brother that shared sailing experiences with him from a very young age, this is a very special race and a very special project for him. Santella states, "These projects keep me alive," referring to the passion and curiosity surrounding innovative new builds like this.

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Santella says he first became curious about these hydrogen foiling catamarans two years ago, imagining flying over the chop, the waves, smoothly and silently. He had never been on one, save for that on a foiling board.

The Bluegame BGHSV composite structures from Gurit Engineering combine with foils structure by Doug ... [+] Schickler and Davide Tagliapietra to create what Santella says is the most technically advanced boat sailing in the world today, achieving a 200 nautical mile range, reaching a top speed of 50 knots., navigating totally emission free.

Captured by the challenge of the project Santella gathered an impressive talent pool, putting himself and Mirko Oprandi on design, Philippe Briand on hull design, and Francis Hueber and Mario Caponnetto on foils design. He then engaged Gurit Engineering for the composite structures, bringing Paolo Manganelli, Harry Gillies Ripoll, and Steve Shaw on board.

To ensure each component was the best it could be, Santella also brought in Edoardo Bianchi to manage composites, Gianni and Paolo Cariboni and Pierluca Bartolotto on mechatronics, Paolo Bertelli for the power training component, and Enrico Dari for R & D, Computer Graphic Technology, and EODev, Energy Observer Developments. Santella also relied on Paolo Dassi as project manager. This highly experienced, well-respected collection of top, cutting-edge talent went to work, creating what Santella envisions will be the finest, most technically advanced chase boat at the race.

Santella tapped Francis Hueber and Mario Caponnetto for foils design, Doug Schickler and Davide ... [+] Tagliapietra on foils structure, and Fabrizio Marabini on flight control, relying on Paolo Bertetti and Enrico Dari for power training, Research and Development, Computer Graphics Technology, and EODev.

An Important Marine Business Component

While these unique craft may be just another interesting part of this epic competition, Santella feels it was a very smart marine business move to include the advanced technology for the chase boats. Foiling will absolutely become a part of mainstream marine design, Santella says, adding that it may take a little longer for the hydrogen propulsion to become popular.

"It is a very delicate and complex matter, and the network is still very, very much at the beginning," Santella states, but adds, "regarding the foils, I am really a fan of it, and looking forward to it. We are already working on a project at Bluegame. We will have a 45-foot foiling catamaran. It won't be a high tech foiling boat like we see in the chase boat, but still it will be a foiling boat."

Santella says that there is a 45-foot foiling catamaran in the works at Bluegame that has already ... [+] sparked a lot of interest. Should someone want their own version of the BGHSV chase boat, Bluegame can certainly build it. The cost will be high, but it will be an extremely high tech, nice looking asset for any superyacht looking for a clean, quiet, fast ride.

Transitioning From Race Course Concept To Day Cruiser

After the excitement of watching these chase boats at the America's Cup, there is bound to be interest generated by their quick, quiet presence. If someone comes up to Santella after the race inquiring about their own personal version of the boat, he says that it would be expensive, but Bluegame would absolutely be able to deliver. "Yes, yes, well ... you see, it's a lot of money, but it can be a very unique toy for really special guys, so why not?"

Santella says that he has already thought about the evolution of the same boat to make it suitable for use with a superyacht. It can be avant garde, high tech eye candy for even the edgiest, most well-equipped superyachts.

With regard to the need for training to assure competent captains, Santella equates driving the foiling HSV with driving a Ferrari. There might be a learning curve, he says, but with minimal instruction and a small practice session an experienced captain can easily fly the boat, especially since flying is controlled 100 percent by software.

"We do practice our captains with our normal boats. I share my knowhow with captains so they can drive safely and so that we can be proud of our boats in their hands," Santella assures. He adds that on the production version, speeds might be limited to 40 knots.

We are moving the technology, the knowhow, the experience on the chase boats into production, giving a sense to the investment in time, money and energy on this project."

Luca Santella, founder and head of product strategy at Bluegame, is looking forward to seeing the ... [+] BGHSV on the water in Barcelona, adding that it has been a fantastic experience, particularly with regard to the elevated quality the passionate team delivered throughout the design and build process.

Looking Ahead To Barcelona

Santella smiles, noting that he is most looking forward to seeing the BGHSVs shine as the best on the water, along with American Magic winning the cup. As far as the race itself, Santella acknowledges that it will be different from the previous race in New Zealand.

"We will see a different sailing compared to the one in New Zealand because New Zealand was very protected seawater, very flat, no waves. Barcelona is very different, so we can have varied conditions, waves, flat water, anything."

American Magic and her BGHSV are ready. The best engineers, the best technicians, the most precise mechanical parts, the complicated software, all have come together to create an very able craft.

Regarding his latest accomplishments on this high tech foiling hydrogen catamaran chase boat, Santella says, "Now I am really proud that my boat can be in the America's Cup."

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