AC33 – the repechage

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Left-Right: Agustín Zulueta (Desafío Español),

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In an about-turn from their previous stance, AC Management (ACM), the event authority for the 33rd America's Cup, has unveiled the details of the 33rd Competition Regulations, ignoring indeterminables, such as the effects of the GGYC lawsuit, and the lack of teams. Taking an‘it'll be alright on the night' approach, ACM has rolled onward.

While Julian Everitt has already talked on the 27.4-metre, AC90 design, for ‘cost' reasons, ACM has also outlawed two-boat testing, placed ‘no-sail periods' and limiting the number of sails used. However, in modern computer game style, ‘bonus' sails can be won by competing in all the ‘Acts' of 2008, the overall winner coming out seven sails heavier.

Testing has also been replaced by officially organised Practice Racing, requested at any time by a team to the regatta director and slotted into an organised schedule publicised well in advance and providing equal opportunity for all Challengers who wish to participate. Tekken for boats?

Claiming that the Defender has been left ‘isolated' from the Challengers, AC33 has four phases: Acts, Trials, Challenger Selection Series and America's Cup Match, with the Defender competing in the Acts, Trials and final Match.

This starts with teams being offered fleet and match racing in ACC V5 yachts in the summer of 2008, with a first Act in Valencia in June/July, and a second in September to be held in Europe. All this while, design teams will be screaming at builders so that by April 2009, Act 3 can be held as an AC90 fleet race in Valencia. Results from the Acts do not carry forward, but if teams compete in the 2008 Acts they gain five sails on top of their 45 sail allocation for 2009, with the Acts winner gaining an additional two sails and second placed competitor one extra sail.

Starting on May 2nd 2009, the first two rounds of the Trials will result in a ranking that includes all Challengers and the Defender, with the six top ranked teams proceeding into the Semi Final. The remaining teams proceed into a parallel fleet racing event called the ‘Challenger Sail Off'.

However, for the top half-dozen, three rounds of the Semi Final will result in a ‘Challenger' ranking, where number 1 in the ranking will go straight to the Challenger Selection Final, leaving a repechage between the second and third positions.

At this point it begins to get complicated, with Alinghi, and those who have fallen by the wayside splitting off into a ‘Secondary Series' of two round robins that runs parallel to the Challenger Selection Series. However, the top three teams will be concentrating on the Challenger Selection Series starts in late June 2009 with the repechage.

The winner of this then meets the top ranked Challenger in a best-of-seven Challenger Selection Final in July, with the victor becoming the Challenger and meeting Alinghi on the 18 July 2009, for a best of a nine-match race series.

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