37th America’s Cup yacht races start in Jeddah

JEDDAH: The 37th America’s Cup yacht race started in Jeddah for the first time on Wednesday with the participation of six teams.
The second preliminary sailboat race continues until Dec. 2 at the Jeddah Yacht Club, under the organization of the Saudi Sailing Federation and in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, a media statement said.
In this first-of-its-kind round outside Spain, the teams will compete to reach the podium and win the qualification round for the final, which will feature only two teams.
American Magic team won the round in Vilanova, northern Spain, in September with a slight lead over the other teams.
Samia Baghdadi, CEO of the SSF, said: “This comes as a continuation of a series of major sporting events hosted by the Kingdom during the past period, confirming its status as the preferred destination for sports and athletes from all over the world.

Additionally, we aim for this championship to inspire Saudi athletes in water sports and contribute to achieving their targets and continuous growth.”
Grant Dalton, CEO of the America’s Cup, said: “We are proud and excited to host this round of the prestigious international yacht championship in Saudi Arabia … we constantly strive to contribute to making the Kingdom a new global center for water sports. We are also looking forward to witnessing its strong and exciting competitions in the Red Sea waters of Jeddah.”
The six teams competing include the defending champion, New Zealand’s Emirates, along with Ineos from Britain, American Magic representing the US, Italy’s Prada Pirelli, Red Bull Racing of Switzerland, and France’s Orient Express Racing.
The America’s Cup yacht race is one of the oldest international championships in water sports.