ABOUT AMERICA'S CUP 2024: Everything you need to know

It will be an intense 3-month racing period for the America's Cup teams, while for the Youth and Women's teams, their separate events will be preceded by long days of official training before they begin their races in earnest.The six America's Cup teams will compete in the Preliminary Regatta from August 22-25 and it will be the first time the new AC75s will be lined up to provide vital performance feedback between the teams. Just four days later, as set out in the Protocol governing the 37th America's Cup, the Louis Vuitton Cup will begin with two Round Robins starting on August 29, 2024, with all six teams competing, including the Defender. The double Round Robin races are scheduled to finish on September 8 and will be the last time the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, will compete against the Challengers prior to the 37th Louis Vuitton America's Cup.However, it is important to note that, according to the Protocol, the results of all races during the Round Robin stage between a Challenger and the Defender will not count towards qualifying for the semi-finals. This means that the top four Challengers will advance to the Semifinals stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup, while the first Challenger team will be eliminated.The top qualifier will select its Semifinal opponent and in each half of the Semifinal draw, it is a best-of-nine race format, with a first in five.There is no margin for error for the Challengers, no days off. The schedule rewards consistency and the opportunity to select your opponent after finishing on top at the conclusion of the Round Robin second round series is immense.The Louis Vuitton Cup will see the winning semi-finalists battle for the right to face Emirates Team New Zealand in the 37th Louis Vuitton America's Cup after a best of thirteen (first in seven) series.

The format for the 37th Louis Vuitton America's Cup itself is also a best of thirteen race series (first in seven) with an expected conclusion on October 21, 2024. (Reserve days are scheduled from October 22 to 27 if necessary). Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand and America's Cup Events (ACE), gave his perspective on the format saying, "This is almost certainly the highest standard of challenger seen in the America's Cup in the last 25 years and the winner will be battle-hardened having overcome the fiery intensity of the Louis Vuitton Cup."

For Emirates Team New Zealand, we will have seen the competitiveness at the start of the Round Robin stage, but it will be a very different and interesting challenge for us come the 37th Louis Vuitton America's Cup Match. It's going to be classic racing."