LUNA ROSSA CHALLENGES AMERICA'S CUP

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron accepts the challenge of Circolo della Vela Sicilia, which becomes the Challenger of Record for the XXXVI America's Cup.

From the Commodores of Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron & Circolo della Vela Sicilia:

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron accepts the challenge of Circolo della Vela Sicilia, which becomes the Challenger of Record for the XXXVI America's Cup.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is pleased to announce that it has accepted a challenge from Circolo della Vela Sicilia which was received immediately upon the victory of Emirates Team New Zealand in the last race of the 35th America's Cup.

As the first challenger, CVS will be the Challenger of Record for the 36th America's Cup and its representative team will be Luna Rossa Challenge.

The 36th America’s Cup will be open to further challengers from any organized Yacht Club of a foreign country under conditions to be announced in due course.

RNZYS and its representative team, Emirates Team New Zealand, look forward to working with CVS and Luna Rossa Challenge to create an exciting future for the event by combining innovation with the traditional sporting values of the America's Cup.

Just hours after the Emirates Team New Zealand defeated Oracle Team USA in the final race of the 35th America's Cup, Circolo della Vela Sicilia filed an official challenge for the 36th America's Cup. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the home club of new new holders of the Auld Mug, promptly accepted the challenge, setting the stage for 2021.

"The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron... has accepted a challenge from Circolo della Vela Sicilia which was received immediately upon the victory of Emirates Team New Zealand in the last race of the 35th America's Cup," it said in a statement.

Circolo della Vela Sicilia will be the official Challenger of Record, represented by an America's Cup veteran team, Luna Rossa Challenge. Luna Rossa Challenge is no stranger to sailing against Emirates Team New Zealand. The teams have faced on the America's Cup World Series, and in challenger trials at the 34th Cup in San Francisco. The Kiwis also successfully defended the America's Cup from another Italian team sailing under the Luna Rossa banner, though from a different yacht club, in 2000 in Auckland.

"The 36th America’s Cup will be open to further challengers from any organised Yacht Club of a foreign country under conditions to be announced in due course."

Further details of the next Cup, including additional challengers will be announced in the coming weeks.