34th America’s Cup Race Results
Defender Oracle Team USA defeated Challenger Emirates Team New Zealand
San Francisco – September 2014
One point for each race win. First team to nine points wins.
From 1-8 down, Team USA won eight races in a row while Team New Zealand was at match point. Final points score: 9-8.
See video replays of all races here.
OTUSA began with a penalty of two points imposed by the International Jury.
America’s Cup / Louis Vuitton Cup: Race Schedules
July – “the regular season” for the America’s Cup
No one gets eliminated. Round robin determines seeding for the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-final and final.
The round robin phase has turned out to be four races – Luna Rossa vs Emirates Team New Zealand, racing each other four times. Twice Luna Rossa finished so far behind that they were scored “DNF” – Did Not Finish. Artemis will forfeit all their races, while they get their new boat ready, following their tragic crash on May 9. All three challengers go on the “playoffs” – the semi-final and final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
“Defender Access” – Oracle Team USA can use the race course for training races between their two boats. As defender, they do not race in the Louis Vuitton Cup with the challengers. Watching their training races will be just as exciting as watching the challengers racing. See my guide to tell Oracle Boat 1 from Boat 2.
August – “playoffs” – decide the Challenger in the America’s Cup Match
Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals and finals. Winner races Oracle Team USA in the America’s Cup Match in September. ETNZ has already clinched the round robin phase, so they can choose to go directly to the Louis Vuitton Cup final or to race either second place Luna Rossa or third place Artemis in the semi-final. The team that does not sail in the semi-final advances directly to the Louis Vuitton Cup final.
The semi-final starts August 6, with one race per day, best of seven (first to win four). Each race is approximately 16 miles long and takes about 40 minutes.
The Louis Vuitton Cup final begins August 17, with two races per day. Each race is approximately 10 miles long and takes about 30 minutes.
“Defender Access” – more Oracle in house racing.
September – “title bout” – Challenger vs Defender in the America’s Cup Match
The America’s Cup is like prize fighting – the contenders duke it out to see who will get a title shot. Defender Oracle Team USA will run in house racing with two AC72s all summer, then put their best crew on their faster boat to take on the Challenger in the America’s Cup Match – a “first to 9” (best of 17) winner take all battle of the titans.
The America’s Cup Match begins on September 7. There will be two races per day, each about 30 minutes long. First to win nine (best of 17) is the new America’s Cup defender.
Between the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup Match: the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup
Ten teams will race as a fleet in AC45s in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup September 1-4. Australia, France, Germany, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland will each have one team; New Zealand and the US will each have two teams. The sailors are all nationals of the country they represent and are 18-24 years old.
Download the full calendar here.