BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The world’s oldest international sporting trophy, the best sailors and the latest design and technology will come together in Barcelona when the 37th edition of the America’s Cup begins Thursday.

Five boats – from Italy, the USA, Great Britain, Switzerland and France – will race the waves of the Mediterranean over the coming weeks to decide which boat will have the honour of dethroning the all-powerful Emirates Team New Zealand at the Auld Mug.

As two-time defending champions, the New Zealanders chose the rough waters of Barcelona as their venue and helped set the rules and boat design for this edition, as well as being guaranteed a place in the final, which will take place in October.

Here’s everything else you need to know about the equivalent of the World Sailing Championships.

Sci-Fi Boats

For anyone who hasn’t followed the foiling revolution in sailing over the past decade, the America’s Cup yachts look more like a flying object from a science fiction movie than a traditional sailboat.

The only more or less recognizable parts are the rudder, mast, mainsail and jib on the 75-foot monohull that the champions have chosen as the type of boat for these regattas. This AC75 is an evolution of the 2021 monohulls, which represented a radical leap from the catamarans that the same New Zealand team sailed to victory in 2017.

If you’re looking for a captain who stands at the helm with his head held high while the sailors whiz around on deck, forget it. The helmeted crew members sit in cockpits where they are protected from the wind and the boats’ aerodynamics are enhanced.

The most notable feature of these boats, however, are the two wings attached to wing-like appendages on the port and starboard sides, which make these boats look like giant water striders. The wings allow these marvels of naval engineering to spend more time with the bottom of the hull above the water during the race than underwater. Their T-shape resembles the upside-down tail of an orca whale and their 4.5-meter wingspan supports the boat, which weighs over six tons, as it shoots across the water at 50 knots per hour (92 km/h).

8-person crew

All teams have two helmsmen for this race – a copy of a practice used by the Italian Luna Rossa team three years ago. The two helmsmen take turns steering, paying attention to each other’s blind spots, as the sails block half of each other’s view. Behind them are two trimmers.

This time there are no grinders. Instead, each boat has four cyclists, called “cyclors” – many of them world-class rowers – who pedal to power the hydraulic mechanisms needed to trim the sails and rotate the mast.

The defender

Emirates Team New Zealand won the America’s Cup in 1995 and 2000 before winning the last two editions.

They are without a doubt the team to beat.

The team, led by Grant Dalton, has earned the respect of its rivals for its daring boat designs and flawless execution. They will compete in the opening round, but their points will not count. They will then sit out the next two rounds while the remaining teams battle it out to see who will face them in the final.

Peter Burling is back at the helm after helping the team to victory in 2017 and 2021. He steers the super-sleek Taihoro yacht alongside fellow Olympic medalist Nathan Outteridge.

The challengers

— Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team reached the last final of 2021 — and lost 7-3. The team, representing the Sicily Yacht Club, is helmed by Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni.

— INEOS Britannia hopes to end Britain’s agonisingly long search for a title. No other team has competed as often as the Brits. Their losing streak began in 1851 when they were defeated by the schooner America in a race around the Isle of Wight. INEOS is led by skipper and Olympic legend Ben Ainslie and supported by the Mercedes Formula One team.

— NYYC American Magic is back after its 2021 season ended shortly after its Patriot boat capsized and nearly sank. The New York Yacht Club has a long history, winning the inaugural edition and then successfully defending the title 24 times until that incredible 132-year streak ended in 1983. It is led by Sailor of the Year Tom Slingsby, an Australian who holds an American passport thanks to his American mother, and Englishman Paul Goodison, another Olympic gold medalist.

__ Alinghi Red Bull Racing is backed by the sports drinks giant and its F1 team. The Swiss team is aiming for a title after the landlocked country won the Cup in 2003 and 2007. It has been training in Barcelona for the longest time, two years after taking up residence here.

__ The Orient Express Racing Team arrives with a boat based on a design it bought from the New Zealand team. As the last team to arrive in Barcelona, ​​the French face the additional challenge of having less time to practice on site.

The format

In a round-robin format, the weakest challenger will be eliminated by September 8. The remaining four will compete in two playoff series to decide which boat will face New Zealand in a best-of-13 series starting October 12.

This year’s event also includes a new Women’s America’s Cup and a youth competition.

The race track

The races will take place on the same body of water that was used for the sailing competitions at the 1992 Olympic Games.

The boats zigzag back and forth on a rectangular race track set in the waters just off the coast of Barcelona, ​​within sight of fans on the shore. The boats must pass through a pair of buoys – called a gate – and make hairpin turns by switching from one wing to the other.

Several teams have stated that racing conditions in the waters off Barcelona can be more difficult than, for example, Auckland, as there is no natural bay to hold back the waves that come from far out onshore and often run in the opposite direction to the wind.

The start of a race is crucial as the boats maneuver to be in a leading position when they reach the starting line.

The venue

By choosing Spain, New Zealand broke with its tradition of choosing Auckland to host this edition in order to secure a big win. And what better place to guarantee a larger crowd than one of Europe’s main Mediterranean destinations?

The last regatta in New Zealand took place when the world was still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant there were hardly any spectators, nor much of the glamour – think superyachts and wealthy sailing amateurs – that is expected to return in large numbers in Barcelona. Fashion and luxury goods designer Louis Vuitton has returned as the race’s official sponsor, and the trophy will be kept safe on its journey in a special Louis Vuitton suitcase.

Barcelona expects the event to attract around 2.5 million tourists and over a billion euros to stay in the city. The event comes at a time when more and more citizens are complaining about what they see as “overtourism” and exploding rents.

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AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson contributed from San Diego.