THE PRADA CUP – 36th America´s Cup – Auckland

Organised by the Challenger of Record, the PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series is taking place in January and February 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand, to determine which of the Challenger teams will take on the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the “36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA” Match: to win the America’s Cup first you have to win the PRADA Cup.

Only the Challengers Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, New York Yacht Club American Magic, and INEOS TEAM UK compete in the PRADA Cup and the winner will challenge the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the America’s Cup Match.

The PRADA Cup  consists of four Round Robins of three races each, a seven races Semi-Final and a 13 races Final between the two leading teams. Each win gets one point.

The first stage of the PRADA Cup consists of four Round Robins of three races each. The highest ranked Challenger at the end of the Round Robins will be automatically qualified for the PRADA Cup Final; the remaining teams will then race in a 7 races Semi-Final and the first team who gets four points will qualify for the PRADA Cup Final.

The PRADA Cup Final will then determine the Challenger for the “36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA” Match: the winner – the first team to get seven points – will challenge the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, and will receive the PRADA Cup – a striking new trophy designed by renowned designer Marc Newson (CBE) and painstakingly handcrafted by Florentine silversmiths.

THE TROPHY

For a passionate fan of the America’s Cup visiting the Race Village is a good opportunity to feel the unique atmosphere of this event. After entering the village from Quay Street, an Info Point with helpful volunteers will provide all the information people need to know about the Event. In the background of the Info Point, at the north end of Hobson Wharf is the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Base.  The outer perimeter of the Base is fully accessible to the public with great views of the harbour entrance through which the Italian’s and Emirates Team New Zealand pass when leaving or coming back from racing.

On Eastern Viaduct, just to the side of the Info Point and behind a large map of the Race Village is the AC36 Official Merchandise Store. Visit the Store and make a purchase to get behind preferred team or buy some official AC36 merchandise.

Next stop is the AC75 Simulator. Visitors get to experience how the teams train for their races, try the best to keep the boat foiling through a race course. One helmsman and up to three passengers can go on one ride together. A coach helps to helm through the race course, while one of the passengers can experience the ride with VR Goggles, exploring the surrounding landscape. The experience on the simulator is for free and accessible. It is one of the most popular attractions in the America’s Cup Race Village.

Continuing your way through the village, who walks will pass Te Pou / New Zealand House and Mumm Yacht Club on Te Wero Island. Te Pou offers a range of typical New Zealand food and drinks. The Mumm Yacht Club right beside welcomes visitors with Mumm Champagne in a nice atmosphere with good view to the Main Stage.

Who really wants to be close to the Main Stage on race days, in the mornings at 11:30 am can get the chance to meet the sailors during the pre-race show. And in the afternoon, it is a great opportunity to watch the racing in one of our comfortable beanbags and on the blue carpet. The atmosphere is great as supporters from all teams are represented and cheer for their team.

After crossing the Wynyard bridge, to the right there is the team base of Emirates Team New Zealand.
Who turns around not only see TVNZ’s studio, but more over the 3D Photo Wall. Visitors can ask to our kind volunteers to take a picture in front of the 3D Photo wall with Auckland’s impressive skyline in the background. It is the most photographed scene of the America’s Cup Race Village for a reason.

On Karanga Plaza there is red Info Point. Volunteers are happy to provide any information and hot spots of the village. On the back of the Info Point, the Accreditation Centre.

Walking down Halsey Wharf provides some hidden gems. First of all, and impossible to miss, is the Giant Prada Cup. Standing at 4m high and 4t heavy, the Giant Prada Cup is impressive to look at. Built in NZ it consists of a metal frame and the foam Cup was shaped by CNC machinery. Silvered with car wrapping vynil, the Cup received its shiny look. Few metre after the Cup one of the newly built breakwaters – a great spot to watch the British and the American boats leaving and returning. Visitors can Grab a coffee at Minnie’s and have a look at the AC75 replica boat on show. Then walk along the Prada Media Centre and the Prada Hospitality. The end of Halsey Wharf is one of the best locations to see the Italian and New Zealand boats leaving and returning to the Harbour.

Aucklan, New Zealand, is one of the America’s Cup most storied venues. It sits with only a handful of global locations that have ever hosted an America’s Cup Match in the past 30 years alongside Newport, Fremantle, San Diego, Valencia, San Francisco and Bermuda.

Auckland was the host city to the 2000 and 2003 America’s Cup and it is world renown as the “City of Sails”. The city’s waterfront has been quickly transforming to become the hub of the America’s Cup action for the event in 2021 and to leave a long-term legacy for Aucklanders and visitors.

Since the victory of Emirates Team New Zealand in 2017 the team, the Government and Auckland Council have been working relentlessly to fast track and reform the area that has been dominated by what has been known locally as ‘the tank farm’. 

The common vision of Government, Auckland Council and Emirates Team New Zealand is for the 36th America’s Cup to be an inclusive event, with a waterfront that will allow an experience accessible for everyone, connecting people to boats, bases and events, in a linear village that will spread across the waterfront from the Eastern Viaduct, to North Wharf and Wynyard Point.

Part of the vision looks far beyond 2021 and will create new open spaces for people overlooking the harbour. Extending the team bases to Wynyard Wharf opens up Wynyard Point to the public, leading the way for the future redevelopment of the regional destination park which will start in 2022 onwards.

THE  PRADA  CUP

36th America´s Cup – Auckland 2020/21