Standing by for more storytelling

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
Since Long Beach Yacht Club announced the launch of their America’s Cup team nearly two years ago, Stars+Stripes USA has done just about everything but build a boat and field a team. In all sincerity, their continued existence is quite impressive.

Most people would have tapped out a year ago, but team co-Founders Mike Buckley and Taylor Canfield remain in the ring, seemingly waiting for The Undertaker to throw them out. Until that happens, they are an America’s Cup team, and they aren’t giving that up.

Tricia Wilber

It seemed the fat lady was singing when an America’s Cup Arbitration Panel ruling in August effectively ended their prospects at participation, but they have now announced the appointment of Tricia Wilber as Chief Executive Officer, a position Buckley had filled since their first CEO, Justin Shaffer, departed after five months.

Here’s the team’s announcement on October 5:
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Tricia will take this leadership position to deliver on the ovrall management of the bran, team, and business operations. She will report to Chairman and co-founder, Mike Buckley, and co-founder Taylor Canfield.

Tricia comes to Stars+Stripes USA after a 19-year career at the Walt Disney Company where she last held the position, for 9 years (Apr 2009 – Dec 2018), as Chief Marketing Officer for The Walt Disney Company, EMEA. “I have been advising Mike and Taylor on their vision for the last 2 ½ years. I believe in their mission to leverage world-class sailing events and their success to bring diversity and inclusion to the sport of sailing,” said Tricia Wilber.

“Tricia brings her business acumen, combined with her experience of world-class storytelling to lead us to achieve our goals. We are honored to have her take this role and excited about working together,” said Chairman and co-Founder, Mike Buckley, and co-Founder Taylor Canfield.
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I’d love to share their intentions for the 36th America’s Cup, but that email never got responded to, much like every email I have sent to this team for an update. Standing by for more storytelling.

Details: www.americascup.com

36th America’s Cup
In addition to Challenges from Italy, USA, and Great Britain that were accepted during the initial entry period (January 1 to June 30, 2018), eight additional Notices of Challenge were received by the late entry deadline on November 30, 2018. Of those eight submittals, entries from Malta, USA, and the Netherlands were also accepted. Here’s the list:

Defender:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)

Challengers:
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger of Record
• American Magic (USA)
• INEOS Team UK (GBR)
• Malta Altus Challenge (MLT) – WITHDRAWN
• Stars + Stripes Team USA (USA)
• DutchSail (NED) – WITHDRAWN

Of the three late entries, only Stars+Stripes USA remains committed, however, it is unclear what entry payments have been made, nor is there knowledge of a boat being actively built or sailing team assembled.

Key America’s Cup dates:
✔ September 28, 2017: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
✔ November 30, 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
✔ January 1, 2018: Entries for Challengers open
✔ March 31, 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
✔ June 30, 2018: Entries for Challengers close
✔ August 31, 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed
✔ August 31, 2018: Specific race course area confirmed
✔ November 30, 2018: Late entries deadline
✔ March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ 2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series events (CANCELLED)
✔ October 1, 2019: US$1million late entry fee deadline (NOT KNOWN)
✔ February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ April 23-26, 2020: First (1/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Cagliari, Sardinia (CANCELLED)
✔ June 4-7, 2020: Second (2/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Portsmouth, England (CANCELLED)
• December 17-20, 2020: Third (3/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Auckland, New Zealand
• January 15-February 22, 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
• March 6-15, 2021: The America’s Cup Match

Youth America’s Cup Competition (CANCELLED)
• February 18-23, 2021
• March 1-5, 2021
• March 8-12, 2021

AC75 launch dates:
September 6 – Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Boat 1
September 10 – American Magic (USA), Boat 1; actual launch date earlier but not released
October 2 – Luna Rossa (ITA), Boat 1
October 4 – INEOS Team UK (GBR), Boat 1

Details: www.americascup.com