Friday, 8 August was the deadline to submit challenges.
ACEA says that they have a “strong lineup” but did not name the teams.
Expected / possible challengers
Click each team’s name for more information on the Cup Experience site, and see the team updates below, in this newsletter.
- Emirates Team New Zealand
- Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA)
- Artemis Racing (SWE)
- Ben Ainslie Racing (GBR)
- Team France
News about defender Oracle Team USA.
Why isn’t Team Australia in the list of challengers?
Challenger of Record
On 19 July, Team Australia of Hamilton Island Yacht Club announced their withdrawal as Challenger of Record, giving 90 days notice as required by the Protocol. Many observers think that Luna Rossa submitted their challenge next after Team Australia, and that they will become CoR.
Press Conference to Introduce Teams and Skippers: 9 September in London
ACEA will hold a press conference in London on 9 September to introduce the teams and their skippers. In the meantime, ACEA (on behalf of Golden Gate Yacht Club) will make sure the submitted challenges are valid. Challengers then have seven days to pay the first installment of the entrance fee – $1 million due now with the second payment of $1M due 1 December. They must also pay $75,000 in fees for intellectual property protection and website costs now. Those fees are non-refundable. There is also a refundable $1 million performance bond due 1 December. When the fees due now have been paid, the challenge will be accepted. ACEA expects that process to be completed by 20 August.