First regatta of the 38th America's Cup set for Cagliari, Sardinia in May

The event – which was announced today at presentation in the conference hall at the city’s cruise terminal – is promoted and funded by the Tourism Department of the Region of Sardinia and organised in collaboration with America’s Cup Event, the Italian Government – particularly the Minister for Sport & Youth Andrea Abodi – and Sport e Salute S.p.A.

Racing will take place on the waters off Sardinia’s Gulf of Angels, adjacent to the Port of Cagliari and the home base of the Italian challenger Luna Rossa. 

The home team will be joined by the America’s Cup holders Emirates Team New Zealand, the British Challenger of Record Athena Racing, France’s K–Challenge, and the Swiss Tudor Team Alinghi. All five syndicates can field up to two AC40s, one of which will be raced by sailors from the Women’s America’s Cup and the Youth America’s Cup competitions...

The event marks the first competitive action of the 38th America’s Cup and the format features a qualifying series of up to 10 fleet races culminating in a winner-takes-all final match race between the top two teams on the last day.

Points from the Preliminary Regatta series do not count towards the 38th America’s Cup standings. However, with more than a year and half having passed since the final racing at the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, all five teams will be keen to get their AC38 campaigns off to a good start with a strong showing in Cagliari.

With the regatta taking place during what is traditionally a transitional time for the region weather-wise, all the teams will be weighing up the potential for racing in Mistral and/or Scirocco winds that can produce interesting and challenging conditions on the waters off Cagliari.

Ray Davies, Chief Coach for Emirates Team New Zealand, is acutely aware of what could be in store.

“We’ve looked at all the recon videos from when Luna Rossa were training there ahead of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup and that was some of the best sailing we ever saw in the build-up," he said. "We could see a nice NW flat water mistral breeze or a solid thermal onshore breeze with a bit of chop or a SE breeze from Africa which can kick up some good waves so we can expect some excellent racing conditions. Everyone is going to be watching the data in the lead up to Cagliari and we’ll certainly be looking at our heavier air performances here in Auckland for sure.”

Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, thinks that upsets could be on the cards.

“From what we are seeing internally there is very little to choose between what you might call the ‘established’ sailors and the newcomers. We also know that the other teams have incredible depths of talent in their Youth & Women’s teams so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the fleet racing completely mixed and some of those next-gen talents taking big scalps. Cagliari will be incredibly interesting from a sporting perspective.”

In addition to the often-seen Mistral conditions, another phenomenon blows into the Bay of Angels and along the Poetto Beach in the form of the Scirocco wind that comes up from the south-east and the south-south-east usually with a much longer form wave pattern than the sharp chop of the Mistral. The Scirocco is what many call ‘dream conditions’ for foiling, where 8-20 knots of breeze could see the AC40s hit speeds topping 45 knots. Davies is certainly hoping so. “Those are the glamour conditions that usually produce clearer skies and if we get that, Cagliari will be a spectacle,” he said.

Shoreside, spectators will have plenty to keep them entertained. A free-access Race Village in the port with a further public FanZone area overlooking the race course is planned, with large screens and live coverage which will bring all the action shoreside.

“Planning is already well advanced here in Cagliari, Sardinia to deliver a spectacular event this coming May,” said Leslie Ryan, event director for the 38th America’s Cup. “With a racecourse in the Bay of Angels visible from the land for spectators, a central race village packed with content and large screens that will be set up along the port accessible to all, an action packed four-day programme is promised.”