VALENCIA – Points won in the pre-America's Cup events will count towards the final result, it has been announced.
Winners of the Louis Vuitton Acts, which begin this month, will gain bonus points towards the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007.
The America's Cup challenger to Alinghi will be decided bythe Louis Vuitton Cup.
This means point scoring for the 32nd America's Cup starts with the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 4 and 5, beginning on June 16.
"This system is something completely new for the America's Cup," said Michel Bonnefous, CEO of the America's Cup organisers. "The racing that begins in June in Valencia, and continues through the Louis Vuitton Acts over the next three years, is going to have a real impact."
The 32nd America's Cup is an event consisting of three distinct phases. The Louis Vuitton Acts, which began in 2004 and continue through a Fleet Race in 2007, are opening Acts which include all the competitors.
Then, following the Fleet Race of Act 14 in 2007, the Louis Vuitton Cup begins. This is the Challenger selection series that determines who will race the Defender, Team Alinghi, in the 32nd America's Cup Match - the third and final stage of the competition.
Competitors will collect points based upon their finishing position in each of the remaining 10 Louis Vuitton Acts.
Challengers who perform the best over the next three years will earn the most bonus points.
"The concept of earning Ranking Points due to your results in the Acts is a big breakthrough for the America's Cup," said Tom Ehman, past chairman of the Challenger Commission and a key figure in devising the system.
"It means the Louis Vuitton Acts are real competitions in their own right, with significant rewards for good performance."
But he added: "You will still need to win many races in 2007 if you hope to become the challenger and earn the opportunity of relieving Alinghi of the America's Cup."
