The Gulf of Naples is hosting a vital preliminary regatta for the 38th America’s Cup, serving as a high-stakes proving ground less than a year before the AC75 class takes over these waters for the historic trophy battle. Nine AC40 yachts have gathered on the Italian coast for four days of racing running from September 24 to 27, putting the defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, directly against a hungry fleet of challengers chasing the oldest trophy in international sports.
Format and Fleet Dynamics in the Gulf of Naples
Racing on the Gulf of Naples relies on a straightforward format designed to extract maximum performance data from identical machinery. Teams compete aboard identical AC40 hulls, with organizations permitted to field up to two units. This setup allows squads to split their focus: one boat is crewed by senior team members preparing for the 2027 America’s Cup aboard the larger AC75s, while the other features a mix of youth and female sailors training specifically for the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup.
A total of nine boats take to the starting line in Naples. Emirates Team New Zealand, GB1, and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli each enter two entries into the fleet, whereas Tudor Alinghi, La Roche-Posay, and Team USA compete with a single unit. The schedule features eight fleet-racing heats followed by a decisive match-race final, testing pure speed, crew maneuvers, tactical decision-making, and boat-handling under pressure.
Luna Rossa’s Roster Shake-Up and Local Focus
All eyes in the Italian waters naturally gravitate toward Luna Rossa. The local syndicate enters Naples carrying the momentum of winning the Cagliari preliminary regatta, where they defeated Emirates Team New Zealand in a tense match-race final.
The biggest story for the Italian outfit lies inside the cockpit rather than the hull itself. Marco Gradoni, widely recognized as a standout talent of the new generation, has been promoted to the senior squad. He will sail alongside established stars Peter Burling and Ruggero Tita. Gradoni already proved his mettle in Cagliari by pushing some of the sport’s most seasoned veterans and helping drive the Italian youth and women’s setup toward the sharp end of the fleet. In Naples, he faces a different magnitude of responsibility by locking horns directly with the premier senior teams.
Defending Champions Test Their Speed
On the opposite side of the course sits the defender. Emirates Team New Zealand finished second in Cagliari after reaching the final, arriving in Naples intent on expanding their understanding of AC40 behavior and measuring their relative straight-line speed against a developing fleet.
While the regatta does not carry points toward the 2027 Cup standings, the event provides a clear window into the competition. As race organizers and teams note, every maneuver, start, and tactical choice in Naples helps establish a baseline for the multi-year development cycle leading up to the main match.
Spanish Representation in the Fleet
Spanish interest centers on the French syndicate La Roche-Posay, which features Olympic champions Diego Botín and Florian Trittel as helm and trimmer, respectively. The duo solidified their standing within the America’s Cup ecosystem following strong performances on the Rolex SailGP circuit, which caught the attention of the French team management—led ashore by Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, and on the water by Quentin Delapierre—who incorporated them into their primary crew.
Racing runs through September 27 in the Gulf of Naples, offering sailing fans a definitive look at the current hierarchy of the 38th America’s Cup challengers.
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