AC36: DutchSail issue "moment of truth" press release as entry fee deadlines loom; "W
SAN FRANCISCO (#1199) – The headline of their release is, "April is the month of truth for the Dutch America's Cup entry." That seems to be a fair summary of the state of all three of the late entry teams – the Dutch along with Long Beach YC's Stars+Stripes Team USA, and the Royal Malta YC's Altus Challenge – as they work to secure funding that they fervently hope will get them to the starting line of the Prada Cup (challenger selection series) in early 2021, and the AC World series events on tap in the meantime – but as yet not firmed up – during 2020.
The AC36 Match (finals) between the winner of the Prada Cup, and the Defender, Royal New Zealand Yacht Club represented by Emirates Team New Zealand is currently scheduled to begin on March 6, 2021 in Auckland.
The full release from DutchSail, just issued (your Ed checked, and can assure you this is not an April Fool's joke):
Scheveningen, April 1, 2019 – Pressure is on the DutchSail team as they put together the funding for their Dutch entry in the America’s Cup. As the moment of truth is at hand, currents have gained momentum in the past days.
Eelco Blok, general manager DutchSail: “We started in November with a backlog and we are working hard to make up lost ground. It will be incredibly exciting to put together the funding. We are facing killer deadlines, but as long as there are chances, we won’t give up”.
Simeon Tienpont states that the main pressure is on the planning and construction of the boat, and on building the team: “We have to get down to work with the boat and the team; we cannot delay any longer. We need to take the water.”
The America’s Cup is considered the first international sportsevent and was originally awarded in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron for a race around the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. The cup is named after the first winning yacht, the America. The America’s Cup is not only a test of sailing skill, but also innovation in competitive yachting - break through innovations that continue to shape the global maritime and aeronautical industries.
For the first time in the 167 years of history of the “Auld Mug”, initiated by Simeon Tienpont, the Dutch syndicate by the name of DutchSail signed up with the winner of the 35th America’s Cup - The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. In March 2021 the contestants will compete in the 36th edition in Auckland. The Kiwi defender, layed down the AC75 boat design. The distinctive characteristic of the design is the 75-foot monohull with a canting foil, which makes the boat fly over the water on a single hydrofoil with a speed up to 80 km per hour.