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The Stars and Stripes USA team seems to have finally admitted that they are out of the running to compete for the America’s Cup.
When four AC75 crews set sail to test the boats this week ahead of the America’s Cup World Series in Auckland, potential challenger Stars + Stripes Team USA finally admitted defeat.
Mike Buckley and Taylor Canfield, co-founders of Stars and Stripes Team USA.
Photo: Matt Knighton / Team USA
The Stars and Stripes team representing the Long Beach Yacht Club and co-founded by world sailing champions Mike Buckley and Taylor Canfield wanted to be the first American entry in more than 15 years to challenge for the Auld Mug.
But they never made it to Auckland.
The 36th America’s Cup contenders peaked with six teams accepted for a chance to win the oldest trophy in the sport.
Lack of funding resulted in DutchSail and Malta Altus Challenge participating.
Three teams – Luna Rossa, Team UK and American Magic – have established bases in Auckland and have been testing their second-generation AC75 boats this week ahead of a summer of racing in the ACWS, Christmas Cup and Prada Challenger Cup ahead of the America Cup. .
Stars + Stripes was billed as an adoption of a “grassroots approach” to their America’s Cup campaign and the promotional material said they wanted to create a sustainable legacy for the American yacht industry.
After announcing their entry as a challenger in December 2018, Stars + Stripes said their AC75 was already under construction in Michigan.
American Magic and the New Zealand team practice at E-field in Auckland this week before the America’s Cup World Series.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
As a late entry, the team purchased a design package for their ship from the New Zealand team that was based on the defenders’ first ship, Te Aihe.
In February and March 2019, the team conducted tests for sailors in California before running out of money.
The team then left the radar until, in a final attempt to get to the starting line, Stars + Stripes in July this year went to the America’s Cup Refereeing Panel to ask if they could use a boat built by another team. instead of having his own boat to sail in the America’s Cup World Series event that begins on December 17.
The Refereeing Panel ruled out that the Americans made use of Team New Zealand’s first boat, but Stars + Stripes has yet to make an official announcement regarding their status as a challenger.
According to sailing magazine Latitude 38 The Long Beach Yacht Club sent club members a letter this week informing them that Stars + Stripes had formally withdrawn from the America’s Cup.
RNZ reached out to Long Beach Yacht Club and Stars + Stripes Team USA for comment, but neither organization has yet responded.
