The 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup took place in Barcelona this summer. The races were held from Aug. 29 to Oct. 19. Emirates Team New Zealand, champions of the last America’s Cup, chose Barcelona as the location of this year’s competition.
The America’s Cup is the oldest International Sporting Trophy. The Cup and organization seek to make sailing as accessible and open as possible. Additionally, according to the competition’s website, they want to “entertain existing fans of sailing and attract and educate new fans to the sport.”
Leading up to the America’s Cup races, teams compete for the Louis Vuitton Cup. Only two teams get to participate in the America’s Cup, one of which is the reigning champion.
The Louis Vuitton event is a sailing race in which different groups from respective countries compete. The competing teams race in AC75s, boats specially made for the America’s Cup. This boat class was also used at the 2021 America’s Cup.
The America’s Cup is a “best of 13” series of races in which two boats compete against each other. The team that currently owns the cup is referred to as the Defender, and the Challenger is the team that has worked to get a spot in the series of duals against the defender.
The Challenger is working to defeat the current holder of the cup. The Challenger of Record is the first team to announce their challenge against the Defenders. The Defenders and Challenger of Record set the rules and regulations for the next America’s Cup.
In the final match, Emirates Team New Zealand was the defender and Challenger of Record INEOS Britannia was the challenger. To win the Louis Vuitton Cup, the team must win the Challenger Selection Series.
This year, INEOS Britannia defeated ALINGHI Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, NYYC American Magic and Orient Express Racing Team, earning them a spot in the America’s Cup Races.
Emirates Team New Zealand did not compete for the Louis Vuitton Cup, as the defending champions do not have to qualify. Over several days, Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia competed in 9 races against each other.
The Emirates Team won the first four races, INEOS Britannia won the next two and the Emirates Team won another three to secure the cup.
Emirates Team New Zealand was the expected winner, and they finished out a historic chapter. The team secured victory a full 37 seconds ahead of INEOS Britannia, putting them well into the lead during an intense championship race.
New Zealand has won the America’s Cup the past two times — 2017 in Bermuda and 2021 in Auckland — and they’ve now added a third win to achieve a three-peat of consecutive America Cup wins.
Despite their loss in the America’s Cup, INEOS Britannia still had a successful round of races and won the Louis Vuitton Cup. Since the conclusion of racing, INEOS Britannia has again been announced as the Challenger of Record for the 38th America’s Cup.
There is an official documentary of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in production in Barcelona. In celebration of their historical win, the Emirates Team New Zealand raised a flag in place of their New Zealand one on the boat that stated, ‘Moltes Gràcies Barcelona,’ which means “Many Thanks, Barcelona.” The New Zealanders celebrated on the boat with champagne, horns blaring.
This year, the Puig Women’s America’s Cup held its inaugural competition as part of the 37th America’s Cup. Competitors were split into two sections: the America’s Cup teams, and the invited teams.
After five races, the top three teams from each section advanced to the semifinals. The top two teams from the semifinals advance to a one-on-one final. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli won the inaugural event.
