Programme

There is an ambitious four-year programme of regattas commencing in 2004, each one a distinct Act in the drama of the 32nd America's Cup. The climax will be the Louis Vuitton Cup, and the America's Cup Match itself in 2007. These Acts will be a mixture of fleet and match races in a variety of venues, and open to all.

New ambitious programme
Never before has the America's Cup consisted of such an ambitious programme. For the first time, the America's Cup season consists of more than just a Challenger Selection Series and the America's Cup Match. This concept of a series of Acts is a big evolution for the America's Cup. In the modern era, post 1958, the gap between competitions has been as high as five years; a situation described by Russell Coutts as being a "rather long time between drinks.”

Less time between drinks!

Preliminary Acts
In an effort to make America's Cup Class racing a more regular feature on the sailing calendar, the series of preliminary Acts has been developed to ensure there is America's Cup Class competition in each year leading up to the 2007 Match. These Acts allow the teams to measure themselves alongside their fellow competitors at each event, and keep race fans firmly focused on America's Cup racing.

Climax: intense racing over 3 months
Each successive Act will take on increasing importance as the Match draws nearer, and each is expected to be a ranking tool for the early rounds of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007. What we currently think of as the America's Cup – the Challenger Selection Series, and the Match itself – will be much shorter than what we've experienced in the recent past. While these events were spread across five months over the past four America's Cup cycles, they will be concentrated over just three months in 2007, a sharp, intense period of racing.

America's Cup racing each year
Overall, the new schedule represents an important evolution for the America's Cup. While the Cup season itself is much shorter, the Acts ensure meaningful, dramatic, America's Cup racing takes place each year, and allows the America's Cup to go ‘on tour', visiting different venues, and bringing wonderful racing to new audiences.

PROGRAMME FOR 2004

ACT I : MARSEILLE LOUIS VUITTON ACT (5th - 11th September)

Act 1 of the 32nd America's Cup takes place in Marseille with the Marseille Louis Vuitton Act from the 5th to 11th of September, 2004. This event, like each of the 2004 Acts, is open to any America's Cup team, regardless of whether it has officially challenged or not. The Defender, Alinghi will participate, as will Oracle BMW Racing, the Challenger of Record. It is hoped that several strong teams will join them off the French Mediterranean coast. The event will feature an exciting format of both fleet and match races, as the teams battle to draw first blood in the 32nd America's Cup.

The Marseille Louis Vuitton, Act 1, promises dynamic and exciting racing on the water, as well as an event Village ashore with innovative activities for sailors and non-sailors alike. The racing is split across the two main disciplines of yacht racing, fleet racing - where the entire fleet starts at the same time and races together; and match racing - where the fleet is divided into pairs so that each boat races each of the other boats in a match race once. Should the weather behave, and all races scheduled on the first three days take place on time, and should the forecast for the end of the week be favourable, then the reserve day will not be used. But beware…a reserve day is not often a day off!

ACT II : VALENCIA LOUIS VUITTON ACT (5th - 12th October)

Teams will get their first taste of racing in Valencia during Act 2 of the 32nd America's Cup in the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act. Racing begins on the 5th October with an exciting Match Race event based in the host city of the 32nd America's Cup. Racing will conclude with a spectacular celebration on Spain's National Day, the 12th October.

ACT III : VALENCIA LOUIS VUITTON ACT (14th - 17th October)

Act 3 concludes the season with four-days of fleet racing during the final Valencia Louis Vuitton Act for 2004, beginning on the 14th October. Spanish America's Cup fans will have their first opportunity to see these giant speed merchants in a fleet racing format before the teams slip out of racing mode to resume training.


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