Who will be the next Ted Turner?

It has endured two world wars, recessions, depressions, booms, famines and pandemics to remain as the ultimate prize in global yachting. Guided by a meticulous Deed of Gift that promoted ‘friendly competition between foreign countries’ the America’s Cup has been synonymous from the outset with technical innovation.

But arguably since its inception, it has been the great characters that have defined the America’s Cup. Rivalries emerged over decades and even today those rivalries are just as intense. Boating New Zealand highlighted some of the key people:

John Cox Stevens (USA), George L. Schuyler (USA), Susan Henn (GBR), Nathaniel G. Herreshoff (USA), Harold S. Vanderbilt (USA), Hope Goddard Iselin (USA), Sir Thomas Lipton (GBR), Sir T.O.M. Sopwith (GBR), Olin Stephens (USA), Baron Marcel Bich (FRA), Ted Turner (USA), Dennis Conner (USA), Alan Bond (AUS), John Bertrand (AUS), Ben Lexcen (AUS), Dawn Riley (USA), Sir Peter Blake (NZL), Raul Gardini (ITA), Patrizio Bertelli (ITA), Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI), and Grant Dalton (NZL).

Will the modern America’s Cup add to this list? Owners are corporations. Designers are scientists. Sailors are pilots. Broadcast comments are sanitized. Who will be the next Ted Turner?

Details: https://www.americascup.com/

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.

Entrants:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) – Defender
• GB1 (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.

Source: America’s Cup