The America’s Cup sailing race, where history and innovation meet

Prysmian is taking part in the challenge and excitement of the America’s Cup sailing race, the world’s oldest sporting event, officially sponsoring the twice-winning Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing for the 37th edition of the event taking place this year.

The America’s Cup is one of the world’s most sensational races, and drew a global TV and streaming audience of about 941 million for the 36th edition sailed in Auckland, New Zealand between December 2020 and March 2021.

The top-level competition – often called the “Formula1 of the seas” is a showcase for innovation, high performance, sustainability, and teamwork. As such it reflects the values of Prysmian, which is helping to supply energy and information across the globe through its competitive and cutting-edge products, services and technologies.

The competition dates back to August 22, 1851, when a sailing regatta was held around the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England. It was a fleet race between several yachts of Britain’s Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) and a schooner named America, owned by a syndicate of members from the New York Yacht Club (NYYC), which turned out to be the winner.

The trophy for the event, an elegant sterling silver ewer, was made by the prestigious London jewelers Garrard in 1848. It was valued at 100 pounds sterling and was initially referred to as the £100 Cup.

In 1857, the winners of the trophy donated it to the NYYC to be used for ongoing international competition, and they renamed it the America’s Cup in honor of the victorious schooner.

Sailing’s most coveted prize, also nicknamed the Auld Mug in the sailing community, is engraved with the names of teams that have competed for it. It has been extended several times through the addition of bases to make room for more names.

The NYYC managed to defend the trophy 24 times in a row before its defeat in 1983 against the Royal Perth Yacht Club with the yacht Australia II.

In 1987, The America’s Cup was held in Fremantle, Perth, in Western Australia, the first venue outside of the United States to host the renamed event. The San Diego Yacht Club won the Cup that year and it remained in the USA until the 1995 victory of New Zealand’s Black Magic team.

In 2003, the Swiss team Alinghi won the competition in Auckland on its first attempt, making it the first European team to win the trophy.

The history and reputation of the America's Cup draws in the top international sailors, designers, and sponsors. Competing teams spend millions of dollars in preparation for the race. The “Formula 1 of the seas” encourages teams to strive for the best sailing abilities, boat design, and management skills.

Despite it being a long-running competition, only the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland have ever won the Cup over the years. Although the British have challenged the most, they have never won it. Teams from Italy, France, Spain, South Africa, Germany, Japan, China and Sweden in modern times have come close to winning, but never managed.

Matches are held several years apart on dates agreed between the defender of the trophy and the Challenger of Record, which is the first to challenge the holder of the Cup after it has been won. There is no specific schedule, but the races tend to be held every three to four years. This year the Challenger of Record is the INEOS Britannia team representing Britain’s Royal Yacht Squadron.

Nowadays, the event involves two stages. In the first, challengers from various countries compete against each other in a selection series. In the second stage, the most successful challenging yacht competes in a match race with a boat from the country that is defending the trophy.

The 37th edition is set to run from August to October 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, is defending the trophy again after its yacht was the successful defender in the 36th America's Cup in 2021 against the challenging team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli representing Circolo della Vela Sicilia.

After an over-ten-year absence, the Swiss challenger Alinghi Red Bull Racing is returning in 2024 to battle again for this highest honor in the sailing world, under the flag of the Société Nautique de Genève.

Alinghi’s AC75 BoatOne made its debut on April 5 in Barcelona, and its christening on April 16 gave competitors and sports lovers the opportunity to see how it will look and perform in the water against the other five boats in this year’s edition, as the team attempts a third-time win.

Its black and red sails bear the Prysmian logo, highlighting the new partnership that builds on Prysmian’s long-time commitment to competitive sailing. Best of luck to Alinghi for a third victory!

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The America’s Cup sailing race, where history and innovation meet

The America’s Cup sailing race, where history and innovation meet