Just 83 days remain until Emirates Team New Zealand take on the challengers in the first race of the highly anticipated 2021 America's Cup.
Luna Rossa, American Magic and Ineos Team UK will try to beat the Kiwi defending champions next year to take home the prestigious 'Auld Mug'.
But first, they'll put their sailing skills and boat designs to the test in this week's world series - the only regatta where all four teams will compete.
Here's what you need to know:
Who's racing
Four teams from Italy, the United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom will compete in the America's Cup World Series this week.
Italy's Luna Rossa will be led by team director and skipper Max Sirena, who's told Newshub the Italians are ready to brawl.
"We want to be right in front of Team New Zealand," he says.
The second challenging team are the New York Yacht Club's 'American Magic', run by executive director and skipper Terry Hutchinson.
The United States won the first America's Cup in 1851 and have successfully defended the title 24 times.
Ineos Team UK will also compete for the chance to take on Team NZ.
The sailing crew include team principal and skipper Ben Ainslie, and fellow Olympic Gold medallist Giles Scott as tactician.
Grant Dalton will lead Emirates Team New Zealand, with Olympic gold medalist Peter Burling at the helm, as the New Zealand team attempt to prevail in the America's Cup final for the fourth time.
They'll sail on their boat 'Te Rehutai', meaning 'Spirit of the Ocean', which has been widely acclaimed for its radical design shift and early performance.
The races
Three regattas makes up the series, scheduled from December 2020-March 2021.
- Prada America’s Cup World Series, Auckland, and Prada Christmas Race (December 17-20, 2020)
The world series will provide the last chance for teams to race each other, before only the challengers go head to head in the Prada Cup.
The first three days will see four races per day in a round-robin competition, where teams race each other twice.
Then the Prada Christmas Race will kick off on Sunday, December 20, with head-to-head match-ups and winners progressing to the final.
The regatta is a first chance for public to see boats and teams in action in exhibition races.
- Prada Cup (January 15-February 22, 2021)
Challengers Luna Rossa, American Magic and Team UK will go head to head in the Prada Cup.
Two races are scheduled each day between 4-6pm, with round robins taking place from January 15-24, followed by the semi-finals from January 29-February 2.
The top two teams will contest the final from February 13-22, with the winners going on to challenge for the America's Cup.
- America's Cup, presented by Prada
Emirates Team New Zealand defend the trophy against the Prada Cup winners in the America's Cup series from March 6-21.
Two races are scheduled each day, with the first teams to seven wins claiming the 'Auld Mug'.
Courses and where to watch
Five courses are located around Auckland's Waitematā Harbour and Hauraki Gulf.
They are all about 3km long and between 500-800m wide, with boundaries that the boats must stay between.
At the beginning of each day, race management will choose the course, based on weather conditions, wind intensity and direction, and tides.
Plenty of vantage points are available on land around the North Shore and eastern bays of Auckland, along with the America's Cup race village at Hobson's Wharf, which is open free of charge through the whole event.
Best viewing
Course A - Milford & Takapuna
Course B - Narrow Neck
Course C - North Head & Bastion Point
Course D - Achilles Point & Rangitoto Island
Course E - Maraetai
World series schedule
December 17
- Race 1 - Team NZ v Luna Rossa (15:12)
- Race 2 - American Magic v Team UK (15:50)
- Race 3 - Team UK v Luna Rossa (16:40)
- Race 4 - American Magic v Team NZ (17:20)
December 18
- Race 1 - Luna Rossa v American Magic (15:12)
- Race 2 - Team NZ v Team UK (15:50)
- Race 3 - American Magic v Luna Rossa (16:40)
- Race 4 - Team UK v Team NZ (17:20)
December 19
- Race 1- Luna Rossa v Team UK (15:12)
- Race 2 - Team NZ v American Magic (15:50)
- Race 3 - Team UK v American Magic (16:40)
- Race 4 - Luna Rossa v Team NZ (17:20)
December 20
- Race 1 - Team D v Team A
- Race 2 - Team C v Team B
- Race 3 - Sail-off for third/fourth (Race 1 losers v Race 2 losers)
- Race 4 - Final (Race 1 winners v Race 2 winners)
All race times depend on weather conditions.
Join us from Thursday for live updates of the America's Cup world series
