Ineos Britannia will once again be the first challenger against the defending America's Cup champions from New Zealand. The British are taking a leading role in the negotiations on the Cup rules.
Ineos Britannia has positioned itself as the first challenger for the 38th America's Cup. Just a few weeks after the end of the 37th edition of the prestigious sailing competition, the British, led by four-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie, have challenged the defending champions from New Zealand. The challenge was issued immediately after the British lost to Team New Zealand on October 19.
The New Zealanders confirmed on Friday that they accept the challenge. This marks the start of a new phase of preparations for the next America's Cup, in which the British will be aiming to bring the oldest international sporting trophy back to their home country since its premiere in 1851.
Leading role of the British
As "Challenger of Record", the British have a central role in the negotiations on the rules of the upcoming Cup. This position gives them a significant voice among the challengers when it comes to setting the terms of the competition. The venue and year of the next Cup have not yet been decided, but will be determined within the next eight months, according to the New Zealanders.
Successes of the New Zealanders
Team New Zealand has already won the America's Cup for the third time in a row, with victories in 2017, 2021 and most recently in October. Five nations competed in this year's Louis Vuitton Cup, the challenger competition, including a Swiss syndicate called Alinghi. The New Zealanders have established themselves as the dominant force in sailing and now face the challenge of defending their title against the British.
SDA
