America's Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah, presented by NEOM

 

It was thrilling. It was tense. But Emirates Team New Zealand laid it all on the line, sailed accurately and consistently on the day and aced the Grand Final from start to finish to win the America's Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah, presented by NEOM.

In outstanding conditions with a solid 16-20 knot breeze and a lumpy, challenging sea-state, the Red Sea delivered with the same kind of impact that the organisers of this magnificent event achieved shoreside.

Tom Slingsby, Skipper of NYYC American Magic summed up the event saying: "I'm really impressed, the hospitality has been amazing, the sailing has been amazing, the venue's been great. Honestly this is my first time here, but I can see a lot of high-level events coming here in the future."

And Tom's words were echoed by Sir Ben Ainslie, Team Principle of INEOS Britannia and the most decorated Olympic sailor of all time when he said: "I think it has been a phenomenal event, brilliant conditions, the hosts have been truly wonderful, and you couldn't ask for a better reception or better hosts, so I think it's been a huge success."

The Closing Ceremony may well have brought down the curtain on the regatta but what's opened up in Jeddah is a world-class venue for high-performance sailing that is both ambitious and visionary in its dedication to the sport. The Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina hosted the America's Cup with superb and rare efficiency whilst the Saudi Sailing Federation with its goal to inspire the next generation of young Saudi girls and boys into the sport of sailing and to compete at an elite level, ticked every box of their long-term vision. This was a remarkable event and a global first for the America's Cup coming to the pristine Red Sea.

With the Closing Ceremony concluded and Emirates Team New Zealand crowned as champions, a wonderful, visionary regatta here on the Red Sea draws to its natural conclusion. Happy faces all around, this has been an historic and memorable event superbly hosted by the Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina and the Saudi Sailing Federation. A new destination on the map of high-performance sailing has been created and a fabulous chapter written on the road to the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona in 2024.

Sailing as a sport, the City of Jeddah, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were the big winners but Emirates Team New Zealand take home the trophy.

www.americascup.com

Final Standings in Jeddah:

1. Emirates Team New Zealand, 64pts

2. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, 49pts

3. Alinghi Red Bull Racing, 35pts

4. NYYC American Magic, 28pts

5. INEOS Britannia, 26pts

6. Orient Express Racing Team, 20pts