Registration
open for America's Cup (26/01/04) (source
: AC
Management)
With the signing of an amended
protocol and the publication of the Terms of Challenge,
the challenge period for the 32nd America's Cup commences
today and remains open until the end of 2004.
The challenge deadline is 17 December 2004. Challengers
will be accepted after that date until 29 April, 2005
if accompanied by a late fee.
If ACM is demanding a €1 million "performance
bond" from teams, the start-up costs have received
a welcome reduction by the waiving of the non refundable
entry fee, which had been set at €450.000.
The Swiss have felt able to drop the entry fee by
virtue of holding a bidding auction for host cities.
Valencia's winning offer and the sale of title sponsor
rights to Louis Vuitton and Endesa mean the Swiss
have raised at least €100 million.
These two fundamental documents, which describe in
detail the rules, terms and conditions for teams wishing
to participate in the 32nd America's Cup, reflect
the new dimension and the increased sophistication
that the event is taking as it arrives in Europe for
the first time in its 153-year history.
The 2004-2007 America's Cup will benefit from significant
changes in its racing format as well as from its integration
into Valencia, Spain, the Host City for the 32nd America's
Cup, gradually building up to the climax, the Louis
Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup Match, in 2007.
"These two documents are in line with the new dimension
that the America's Cup is taking as it moves into
Europe", Michel Bonnefous, CEO of AC Management
said. "On the one hand, we at AC Management are
devoting our energy to organising an event that will
perpetuate the legend and allow people to share the
intensity and emotion that the America's Cup inspires,
while, on the other, we are providing strong support
to all teams in a number of significant areas."
Also contained in the Terms of Challenge document
are many measures to aid teams wishing to participate
in the 32nd America's Cup along with details and principles
to govern a fair and balanced event for all concerned.
These include:
-
A Pre-Regatta programme that will
deliver immediate exposure in a variety of geographic
locations from September 2004.
The series of pre-regattas will yield more meaningful
America's Cup racing, with at least three events
being held in each year leading up to 2007.
Fleet racing will be incorporated in some of
these regattas, and the races are open to all,
including the defender and in 2004 for other
teams who may not have registered as challengers
yet.
-
Significant infrastructural and
logistical support, both in Valencia and during
the pre-regattas.
These include a consolidated weather programme
for the race committee and teams, a dedicated
race village where all team bases will be built
and public access to allow fans close to all
the action.
Two racecourses will be set just a 15 minute
tow from the bases, and racing may take place
just tens of metres from the shoreline.
-
Administrative support for all
teams present in Valencia.
This will include a one-stop-shop for members
of the America's Cup community, facilitating
schooling, housing and local administrative
issues. Much of this has been made possible
because, for the first time ever, there is a
single event authority - AC Management (ACM)
- for the America's Cup.
The 2004-2007 America's Cup now consists of
Pre-Regattas, the Louis Vuitton Cup (the Challenger
Selection Series) and the America's Cup Match.
