The BUZZ - Oracle Team USA is a two-time winner of the America’s Cup (2010 and 2013). It is aiming for a three- peat with the upcoming races in Bermuda. Photo,left page: Sam Greenfield /Oracle Team USA, courtesy of Ber Team /Oracle page: Sam Greenfield Photo,left muda Tourism Authority. Vuitton courtesy of Louis Pinto, 2015 / Ricardo Photo, inset right: © ACEA 76 NY_Buzz Event_America’s CupSCCS46.indd 76 4/17/17 10:11 AM IN FULL What you aneed to know to take in the 35th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup races THE NEW YORK i CONNECTION starting in Above: Last year, New York hosted May off the the Louis Vuitton S l America’s Cup coast of World Series, a pre- liminary face off - Bermuda. where competitors earned points for BY ROBERTA NAAS the final races. HOW THE RACES STARTED: In a race GET READY: Beginning in late May, yacht THE SCHEDULE: The action in Bermuda around England’s Isle of Wight in August lovers are in for a spectacular treat: the kick- this summer represents the climax of a com- 1851, an upstart schooner named America off of the 35th America’s Cup presented by petition that started two years ago in Ports- sailed past the Royal Yacht to win the 100 Louis Vuitton in Bermuda. Defending the mouth, England. The first of the final series Pound Cup. More than a simple boating com- America’s Cup, the competition for the oldest of races, Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Quali- petition, this triumph of the New York Yacht trophy in international sports (dating back to fiers, begins in Bermuda on May 26 and runs Club (NYYC) over the Royal Yacht Squadron 1851), will be Oracle Team USA, representing through June 3. These races are followed by symbolized a huge victory for America, repre- the Golden Gate Yacht Club, which won the the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger senting the New World over the UK, or the Old Cup in 2010 and 2013. Five challengers will Playoffs, which culminate in the America’s World. The trophy was renamed the America’s race one another over the course of a month to Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton. In that Cup after the winning schooner and was do- go up against the Oracle team. final match, the first team to seven points wins nated to the NYYC, which made it available the America’s Cup. for subsequent international competitions. muda Tourism Authority. Vuitton courtesy of Louis Pinto, 2015 / Ricardo Photo, inset right: © ACEA Photo,left page: Sam Greenfield /Oracle Team USA, courtesy of Ber Team /Oracle page: Sam Greenfield Photo,left 77 NY_Buzz Event_America’s CupSCCS46.indd 77 4/17/17 10:11 AM The BUZZ Photos, left page: Sam Greenfield/Oracle Team USA, courtesy of Bermuda Tourism USA, courtesy of Bermuda Tourism Team page: Sam Greenfield/Oracle Photos, left Sánchez 2015 /Ainhoa right page inset: © ACEA Authority; 78 NY_Buzz Event_America’s CupSCCS46.indd 78 4/17/17 10:12 AM LOUIS VUITTON finish line is close to stadium- AMERICA’S CUP style seating. QUALIFIERS MAY 26–JUNE 3 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE Every challenging team races AMERICAN TO WIN THE each other twice. Each victory AMERICA’S CUP is worth one point, and those But it helps! American teams points determine which final- have won for most of the four challenger teams progress competition’s history, and the to the Louis Vuitton America’s current Defender is American. Cup Challenger Playoffs Australia II’s victory in 1983 broke the New York Yacht LOUIS VUITTON Club’s grip on the America’s AMERICA’S CUP Cup. It has since been won CHALLENGER PLAYOFFS by teams from Switzerland JUNE 4–JUNE 12 (twice) and New Zealand The Louis Vuitton America’s (twice). For this year’s races, Cup Challenger Playoffs there are teams from Sweden, see the last four challeng- Britain, France, Japan, and ers compete in the semifinal New Zealand. and then final competition races. Each of these competi- HANDS OFF THE CUP! tions are first-to-five races. Made of top-quality ster- The winning team progresses ling silver, the Cup is never to the America’s Cup Match touched by bare hands, only presented by Louis Vuitton as by agents wearing museum- the official Challenger. quality white cotton gloves. In 1997, in New Zealand, a Maori THE AMERICA’S CUP activist attacked the trophy MATCH PRESENTED with a sledgehammer. The SHIP SHAPE BY LOUIS VUITTON Cup was repaired by Garrard’s Far left: A practice day for Oracle Team USA at JUNE 17–18 AND 24–27 of London, and now travels Louis Vuitton America’s This is when Oracle Team in a custom-designed Louis Cup World Series Chi- cago Above: Detail USA defends the trophy Vuitton case with two security of the America’s Cup against the 35th Challenger. protection agents. The Cup traveling case created flies in business or first class by Louis Vuitton. THE BOATS: The Louis wherever it goes, and it’s Vuitton America’s Cup enrolled in many frequent- Qualifiers and Louis Vuitton flyer programs. America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs are raced in America’s WHERE TO STAY: Americas Cup Class (ACC) boats with a cuptravel.com has numer- crew of six. ous packages that include accommodations and tickets WHERE THE RACES ARE to watch the races on spectator HELD: Bermuda’s Great boats. For more information, Sound—a volcano-formed, visit americascup.com; louis- island-framed inlet with a vuitton.com; gotobermuda.com Photos, left page: Sam Greenfield/Oracle Team USA, courtesy of Bermuda Tourism USA, courtesy of Bermuda Tourism Team page: Sam Greenfield/Oracle Photos, left Sánchez 2015 /Ainhoa right page inset: © ACEA Authority; natural amphitheater. The 79 NY_Buzz Event_America’s CupSCCS46.indd 79 4/17/17 10:12 AM Five challengers will race one another to go up against Oracle Team USA. Photos, left page: Sam Greenfield/Oracle Team USA, courtesy of Bermuda USA, courtesy of Bermuda Team page: Sam Greenfield/Oracle Photos, left Pinto; bottom Ricardo 2015/ right page, top: © ACEA Authority; Tourism Vuitton Martin-Raget, both courtesy of Louis 2015 /Gilles © ACEA 80 NY_Buzz Event_America’s CupSCCS46.indd 80 4/17/17 10:12 AM SEA NOTES Far left, top: Oracle Team USA unveil- ing its new AC50 boat in Bermuda. Far left, bottom: The team in action. Left, top: A view of the New York harbor during the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series races last May. It was the first time since 1920 that Cup races were held in New York. Left, bottom: Emir- ates Team New Zealand, shown racing in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Photos, left page: Sam Greenfield/Oracle Team USA, courtesy of Bermuda USA, courtesy of Bermuda Team page: Sam Greenfield/Oracle Photos, left Pinto; bottom Ricardo 2015/ right page, top: © ACEA Authority; Tourism Vuitton Martin-Raget, both courtesy of Louis 2015 /Gilles © ACEA 81 NY_Buzz Event_America’s CupSCCS46.indd 81 4/17/17 10:12 AM The BUZZ The BUZZ MAKING WAVES Above: Teams practicing for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup in Bermuda. The boat to beat is Oracle Team USA, owned by Oracle founder Larry Ellison. Below: Sir Ben Ainslie, winner of four Olympic gold medals, will compete for Great Britain in a Land Rover BAR race yacht he named Rita. Zenith will be the official timing partner. Photos: Courtesy of the International Debutante Ball Photos: Courtesy Photos, top: Louis Vuitton/Ricardo Pinto; bottom, courtesy of Zenith Vuitton/Ricardo Photos, top: Louis 82 NY_Buzz Event_America’s CupSCCS46.indd 82 4/17/17 10:12 AM SAILING TIME A look at the watch brands supporting events and teams Bremont during the final countdown to the Cup. OFFICINE PANERAI: Official Watch Now in its third year of working with the of the 35th America’s Cup, America’s Cup Event Authority,, Bremont Oracle Team USA, SoftBank Team Japan adds to its America’s Cup line with the Officine Panerai, a brand with a rich mari- AC35 watch in a limited run of 35 rose-gold time watch history, is the Official Watch of pieces. Inspired by J-Class yachts of the the 35th America’s Cup. The company is also 1930s, the AC35 features a black dial subtly the Official Watch of the Defenders, Oracle embossed with imprints of the Cup. The Team USA, skippered by Jimmy Spithill, watch bears the “Bermuda” mark to com- and of challenger SoftBank Team Japan. memorate the 2017 final.. With its leading role in the 35th America’s RED, WHITE AND BLUE Cup, Panerai unveils powerhouse watches ULYSSE NARDIN: Official Partner Above: From Omega to celebrate. Top among them: the Official Artemis Racing Team Louis Vuitton: Watch of the America’s Cup, the Panerai Ulysse Nardin, whose brand DNA is rooted Official Title Part- ner of the 35th Luminor Marina 1950 America’s Cup 3 Days in marine watches, is the Official Partner America’s Cup, Automatic Acciaio 44mm. A limited-edition of challenger Artemis Racing Team for the the Tambour Navy Chrono- of 300 pieces, the watch features Panerai’s 2017 America’s Cup. As such, the company graph, inspired patented crown protecting lever device and unveils a series of important water-related by the world of is water resistant to 300 meters. watches, including a highly technical pat- sailing. It has an exclusive ented Regatta chronograph with ingenious tricolor design OMEGA: Official Timekeeper for system. It is equipped with a sweep count- that reinterprets the Gaston V Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) down timer that can be set from 1 to 10 min- signature created Omega has a long connection to the world utes for the critical minutes of maneuver- by Gaston Louis of sailing, so its affiliation with Emirates ing the boat before the starting gun.