WATCH: AC Preliminary Regatta Naples

Six of the seven entrants in the 38th America’s Cup will compete at the Preliminary Regatta on September 25-27 in Naples, Italy. There will nine AC40s racing as teams are allowed to enter two boats, but the second boat must be crewed by youth and women.

With Team Australia on the sideines, up to eight fleet races are scheduled, with the two highest-scoring boats advancing to the winner-take-all match race.

Watch broadcast:
September 25, Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/cEztv-kITdU?si=S-4XFt_0Naxs382z
September 26, Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/live/IjCeELV5qmA?si=sah-JicUM777SLvT
September 27, Day 3: https://www.youtube.com/live/_1zTwUT0_po?si=R0L0d63yM7ElhD7Z

Event details: https://www.americascup.com/naples
YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@americascup

The AC40 has a helm and trimmer on each side of the boat.

Naples entrants:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL): Nathan Outteridge/Seb Menzies (helm), Andy Maloney/Iain Jensen (trim)
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL): Jake Pye/Erica Dawson (helm), Serena Woodall/Josh Armit (trim)
• Athena Racing (GBR): Dylan Fletcher/Ben Cornish (helm), Bleddyn Mon/Andrea Tesei (trim)
• Athena Racing (GBR): Hannah Mills/Ellie Aldridge (helm), Sam Webb/Matt Beck (trim)
• Luna Rossa (ITA): Peter Burling/Marco Gradoni (helm), Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Ugolini/Maria Giubilei (trim)
• Luna Rossa (ITA): Margherita Porro/Max Antoniazzi (helm), Maria Vittorria Marchesini/Giovanni Santi (trim)
• Tudor Team Alinghi (SUI): Paul Goodison/Phil Robertson (helm), Nicolas Rolaz/Pietro Sibello (trim)
• La Roche-Posay Racing Team (FRA): Quentin Delapierre/Diego Botín (helm), Jason Saunders/Florian Trittel (trim)
• American Racing Challenger Team USA (USA): Lucas Calabrese/Harry Melges IV (helm), Hans Henken/Michael Menninger (trim)

Defender New Zealand and Challenger of Record from Great Britain confirmed the Protocol for the 38th America’s Cup on August 12, 2025. The close of the initial entry period was October 31, 2025, with late entries considered up to March 31, 2026.

The AC75 has a helm and trimmer on each side of the boat along with a fifth crew position and a sixth passenger position.

38th America’s Cup: https://www.americascup.com/

38th America’s Cup entrants:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) – Defender
• Athena Racing (GBR) – Challenger of Record
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger
• Tudor Team Alinghi (SUI) – Challenger
• La Roche-Posay Racing Team (FRA) – Challenger
• American Racing Challenger Team USA (USA) – Challenger
• Team Australia (AUS) – Challenger

After the 2024 event, Barcelona, Spain declined hosting another edition, with the venue moved to Naples, Italy. Challenger racing is May 22 to July 4 before the 38th Match on July 10-19. Full details.

Preliminary Regattas:*
May 22-24, 2026 – Cagliari, Italy
September 24-27 – Naples, Italy

* The Protocol noted how there would be as many Preliminary Regattas as possible, with the intent to have three during 2026 and one possibly in early 2027, and a final event at the Match Venue immediately prior to the challenger series. Only two have been thus far revealed.