The simplicity of the America’s Cup is a major source of attraction to many people. The concept of the duel, of two boats on the race course fighting for supremacy, one winner, one loser, is hard to beat as a governing idea.
But that simplicity is ultimately created by quite a heavy stack of rules, many specific just to the America’s Cup, some common to all yacht racing.
The Deed of Gift is the original document creating the America's Cup. In the years after America won the 100 Guinea Cup in 1851, the ownership syndicate donated the Cup to the New York Yacht Club under a Deed of Gift, which stated that the trophy was to be "a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations." Thus was born the America's Cup, named after the winning yacht America. The Deed of Gift, with a few subsequent amendments, is the basic document governing the event to this day.
The Protocol for the 32nd America's Cup was drafted in March 2003 by the winning Yacht Club, the Société Nautique de Genève and the Challenger of Record, the Golden Gate Yacht Club. It outlines the general rules and format of the 32nd America's Cup.
The America's Cup Class Rule provides the detailed measurement constraints and tolerances for an America's Cup Class yacht. Version 4 of the Class Rule was in force for the 31st America's and is the rule that will be used to measure the boats for 2004. Version 5 of the America's Cup Class Rule comes into force for 2005 and onwards. Version 5 of the rule allows more sail area, a lighter boat, but with deeper draft keel, providing the same stability as before. The result is a lighter, faster boat, 'turbo-charged' for 32nd America's Cup.
Once the boats are on the water, racing is governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing, with general amendments for Match Racing, and some further specific amendments for the America’s Cup.
A major improvement to Match Racing in recent years has been the advent of the on-the-water Umpire system, which has streamlined the results process, and all but eliminated protests concerning the application of the Racing Rules of Sailing.
On the water Umpires are similar to referees in other sports, making instant judgements, and handing out penalties as required. Umpires will be used in both the Fleet Racing and Match Racing formats of the 32nd America’s Cup.
