“To win the America’s Cup, you first have to win the Prada Cup,” says the 36th America’s Cup Challenger of Record. Easier said than done, of course, as Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli must do the same as the New York YC’s American Magic and Ineos Team UK, before facing Emirates Team New Zealand in the real-deal sail off for the Auld Mug.
The Prada Cup will consist of four round robins three races each; a seven-race semi-final and a 13-race final between the two leading teams. Each win scores 1 point. The Challenger with the highest score at the end of the round robins advances to the Prada Cup Final; the remaining two teams will race again in the semi-final and the first to win four races enters the final. The first team to score 7 points in the final wins the Prada Cup and will challenge the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the Match of the 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada.
PRADA CUP 2021 SCHEDULE
ELIGIBILITY and MEASUREMENT
Competitors Declaration of its Yacht Configuration
| Wednesday 13 January | 1500 hours | Round Robin Stage | Declaration 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 20 January | 1500 hours | Round Robin Stage | Declaration 2 |
| Wednesday 27 January | 1500 hours | Semi-Final Stage | Declaration 3 |
| Monday 08 February | 1600 hours | Prada Cup Final Stage | Declaration 4 |
A final schedule for the weighing of crew shall be published by the Rules Committee under Class Rule 34.1 on or before 15 July 2020.
RACING
| Friday 15 January | Round Robin 1: Race # 1, Race # 2 | 1500 hours | * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 16 January | Round Robin 1: Race # 3 | 1500 hours | * |
| Round Robin 2: Race # 1 | |||
| Sunday 17 January | Round Robin 2: Race # 2, Race # 3 | 1500 hours | * |
| Monday 18 January | Reserve Day | ||
| Tuesday 19 January | Reserve Day | ||
| Friday 22 January | Round Robin 3: Race # 1, Race # 2 | 1500 hours | * |
| Saturday 23 January | Round Robin 3: Race # 3 | 1500 hours | * |
| Round Robin 4: Race # 1 | |||
| Sunday 24 January | Round Robin 4: Race # 2, Race # 3 | 1500 hours | * |
| Monday 25 January | Reserve Day | ||
| Tuesday 26 January | Reserve Day | ||
| Friday 29 January | Semi-Final: Race # 1, Race # 2 | 1500 hours | * |
| Saturday 30 January | Semi-Final: Race # 3, Race # 4 | 1500 hours | * |
| Sunday 31 January | Semi-Final: Race # 5, Race # 6 | 1500 hours | * |
| Tuesday 02 February | Semi-Final: Race # 7 | 1500 hours | * |
| Wednesday 03 February | Reserve Day | ||
| Thursday 04 February | Reserve Day | ||
| Saturday 13 February | Final: Race # 1, Race # 2 | 1600 hours | * |
| Sunday 14 February | Final: Race # 3, Race # 4 | 1600 hours | * |
| Tuesday 16 February | Reserve Day | ||
| Wednesday 17 February | Final: Race # 5, Race # 6 | 1600 hours | * |
| Thursday 18 February | Reserve Day | ||
| Friday 19 February ** | Final: Race # 7, Race # 8 | 1600 hours | * |
| Saturday 20 February | Final: Race # 9, Race # 10 | 1600 hours | * |
| Sunday 21 February | Final: Race # 11, Race # 12 | 1600 hours | * |
* second race of the day (if any) will be started as soon as possible after completion of the first, but not earlier than 20 minutes.
** Friday 19 February will not be used as a Race Day if the Regatta Director (after consultation with the Competitors) considers racing is not required that day to meet the intended objective of completing the Prada Cup Final over the weekend of 20/21 February 2021. He may also elect to only conduct one race that day.
Notes on Reserve Days
Tuesday 16 February May be used as a Race Day if the Regatta Director so decides (after consultation with the Competitors) due to the Stage being behind schedule after the first two Race Days on 13 and 14 February.
Monday 22 February to If the Prada Cup Final is not completed prior to 22 February Wednesday 24 February then racing will continue every day until completion or until the (included) end of the last Race Day 24 February.
