Is There Still a Louis Vuitton Cup?

The Louis Vuitton Cup has long been a prestigious sailing competition that has drawn the world’s best sailors to compete for the right to challenge for the America’s Cup. However, many people are wondering whether the Louis Vuitton Cup still exists.

What is the Louis Vuitton Cup?

The Louis Vuitton Cup is a sailing competition that was first held in 1983. It was created as a qualifying regatta for challengers of the America’s Cup, which is considered one of the oldest and most prestigious sporting trophies in the world. The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup gets to challenge for the America’s Cup against the defending team.

History of the Louis Vuitton Cup

The first edition of the Louis Vuitton Cup was held in Newport, Rhode Island, USA in 1983. The winner of that competition was Australia II, which went on to defeat Dennis Conner’s Liberty and end America’s 132-year winning streak in what is known as one of sport’s greatest upsets.

Since then, there have been numerous editions of the Louis Vuitton Cup, with teams from all over the world competing for a chance to challenge for the America’s Cup. Some notable winners include New Zealand (1995 and 2000), Prada (2002 and 2004), Emirates Team New Zealand (2007 and 2013), and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (2021).

  • 1983 – Australia II
  • 1987 – Stars & Stripes
  • 1992 – Il Moro di Venezia
  • 1995 – Team New Zealand
  • 2000 – Team New Zealand
  • 2002 – Prada
  • 2004 – Prada
  • 2007 – Emirates Team New Zealand
  • 2013 – Emirates Team New Zealand
  • 2021 – Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli

Is There Still a Louis Vuitton Cup?

The short answer is no, there is no longer a standalone Louis Vuitton Cup regatta. The last time the Louis Vuitton Cup was held as a separate event was in 2013, when it was won by Emirates Team New Zealand.

However, the concept of the Louis Vuitton Cup still exists within the America’s Cup framework. Nowadays, challengers compete in a series of races called the Prada Cup, which serves as the qualifier for the America’s Cup match. The winner of the Prada Cup gets to challenge for the America’s Cup against the defending team.

Prada Cup vs Louis Vuitton Cup

The Prada Cup is essentially a rebranding of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Italian fashion house Prada took over as title sponsor of the challenger series in 2021 and renamed it accordingly. However, the format remains largely unchanged.

The main difference between the two competitions is that while previous editions of the Louis Vuitton Cup were standalone events that took place before the America’s Cup match, today’s challengers race in both round-robin and elimination series before competing in a final to determine who will challenge for the America’s Cup.

Conclusion

In summary, while there is no longer a standalone Louis Vuitton Cup regatta, its legacy lives on through its successor, the Prada Cup. The competition remains an important stepping stone for challengers hoping to win sailing’s ultimate prize and etch their names into sporting history.