America’s Cup: Can Ben Ainslie and INEOS Britannia end Great Britain’s 173-year wait for victory?

 Stunning setting for racing

Huge crowds are expected to watch the racing unfold from the city’s Port Vell waterfront, with Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church an eye-catching feature in the background.

The course is about 3km long and up to 1.5km wide, with boundaries on all sides that boats must stay within or be ordered to move back behind their opponent.

There are two buoys at each end which create a gate boats must pass through before turning around and going back down the course.

The AC75s will zigzag from one gate to the other on every leg, each trying to take advantage of any small changes in wind speed or direction.

Teams have to complete eight lengths (or four laps) of the course and races take around 25-30 minutes, depending on the strength of the wind.

Race dates

The 37th America’s Cup match race days are 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21 October.

There are two races each day starting at 13:00 BST, with reserve days available if needed until 27 October.

The first crew to win seven races takes the America’s Cup and becomes the defender for the 38th trophy. 

What’s the prize?

The sterling silver trophy – made by the royal jewellers of the time Garrards of London – was initially called the RYS £100 Cup but was later renamed the America’s Cup in honour of the first winning boat.

Also known as the Auld Mug, two bases have been added over the years to make room for all the winners’ names to be engraved and the jug now stands at 1.1m tall and weighs more than 20kg.

In 1996 the trophy – then in the hands of New Zealand – needed extensive repairs after a Maori activist protesting against the oppression of his people attacked it multiple times with a hammer.

Credits

Edited by Anna Thompson
Written by Alistair Watkins
Design by Lee Martin
Sub-edited by Rebecca Ranson
Images by Getty and Ineos