AC37 Protocol - Crunch time coming...and fast

Technically the 37th America's Cup could take place as soon as September 2022. While it's unliklely that either the Defender, (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), or the Challenger of Record, (Royal Yacht Squadron) want to take this path to the Cup, the fact is that if the process of delivering the AC37 Protocol stalls, the possibility of a Cup match next year in the northern hemisphere, (or one in January 2023 if in the southern hemisphere), is real. Little surprise that there is so much pressure mounting around the publication of the AC37 Protocol which is due on 17 November. It sounds like most of the normal detail around the type of boat, format of racing etc. has been dealt with. The trouble is that the crucial unknown remains, the venue, a key factor and one that is clearly a big deal. Matt Sheahan explains how and why crunch time is looming fast.