AMERICA'S CUP COMING TO THE MIDDLE EAST

The second Preliminary Regatta of the 37th America's Cup in some ways promises to be an exceptional event. For the first time in the 172-year history of this event, the America's Cup teams will compete in the Red Sea, more specifically in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Nov. 29th to Dec. 2nd. This will also be the last preliminary regatta sailed on AC40 foiling one-design monohulls introduced for this edition.

The Defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the five challengers Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA), INEOS Britannia (GBR), Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI), NYYC American Magic (USA), Orient Express Racing Team (FRA) will participate.

The heart of the event will be at the Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina, host of the Race Village, while the boats sail along at about 50 knots in front of the Corniche, a 30-kilometer coastal belt overlooking the Red Sea. This renowned tourist area is also famous for being home of the F1 street circuit and the King Fahd Fountain, the world's tallest water jet.

As for Vilanova, the Jeddah event will consist in three days of racing (November 30th, December 1st and 2nd), preceded by the Practice Race on Wednesday, November 29th: Thursday and Friday will be fleet racing only, with 3 races scheduled per day; on Saturday there will be 2 fleet races and a match race final between the two top teams to determine the winner of the event. The start time for each race day is set for 1:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. in Italy).

«This is the first time the America's Cup has sailed in the waters of the Red Sea», said Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, «and we are happy and curious to confront each other on a racecourse that is a first for everyone. In keeping with our sporting approach, which aims to rotate sailing team members in order to find the perfect mix for the 37th America's Cup, in Jeddah we will have a different crew from who you saw in Vilanova, with several new faces».

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team members summoned for the Preliminary Regatta in Jeddah (the final crew will be confirmed on a daily basis) are: Ruggero Tita (helmsman), Marco Gradoni (helmsman), Umberto Molineris (trimmer), Vittorio Bissaro (trimmer), Federico Colaninno (trimmer). Supporters will be able to follow the races on live TV broadcast starting at 11:30 a.m. Italian time on Mediaset channel 20 and on dedicated Sky channels (Sky Sport Arena & Sky Sport 24).

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Each day, at the end of the regattas, the Italian press release will be published in the news section of the website and will then be emailed to accredited journalists, together with the English version. All press releases will always be available in the dedicated section of the Press Area.