About the America's Cup

Two yachts in a "match" seems a simple enough concept. One yacht wins, one yacht loses. Behind the excitement of the racing it’s far from simple. An array of documents govern every aspect of designing, building and campaigning an America’s Cup yacht. Syndicates have lawyers and rules experts to ensure no infractions occur.

In the past the defender has been known to write rules that disadvantage the challengers, but nowadays the aim has been to set up the infrastructure to run the regattas and to ensure competition is fair.

The documents:

• The Deed of Gift, the original document that created the America's Cup, was signed on October 14, 1878. It stipulated that the trophy, won by the yacht America in 1851, was to be "a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations." The deed with a few amendments still governs the event today.
• Each America’s Cup regatta is conducted by a protocol that outlines the rules and format of the regatta. The protocol is drawn up by the defender and the challenger of record - in the case of the 32nd America’s Cup the Société Nautique de Genève and the Golden Gate Yacht Club.
• The Terms of Challenge detail the rights and obligations of the participants and organisers of the 32nd America's Cup.
• The America's Cup Class Rule which stipulates design parameters. Yachts must comply with the rule to compete.
• The rules of racing, with general amendments for match racing, and some further amendments specifically for the America’s Cup.