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America’s Cup 2027, Naples prepares to welcome Luna Rossa

Naples prepares for the 2027 America’s Cup as Luna Rossa studies the Gulf and invites Italian fans to support the team

The 38th America’s Cup Match will begin in Naples on 10 July 2027, with Luna Rossa aiming to reach the final challenge

Less than one year remains before the Gulf of Naples becomes the centre of the international sailing world. On 10 July 2027, the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Match will begin, bringing the oldest international sporting trophy to Italian waters for the first time.

The countdown begins in the Gulf of Naples

When race director Iain Murray starts the official departure procedure, Emirates Team New Zealand will line up as Defender against the Challenger that earns the right to compete in the final Match.

The identity of the Challenger will be decided during the Louis Vuitton Cup, the selection series for the competing teams scheduled to take place before the decisive battle for the trophy.

Luna Rossa starts learning the racecourse

Italy’s preparations have already entered a practical phase. Luna Rossa has brought two AC40 yachts to Naples to study the local conditions, rotate crews and collect valuable information about wind patterns, waves and the distinctive characteristics of the Gulf.

The first sailing sessions in front of the city also carried a strong symbolic meaning. For the Italian team, the campaign is no longer limited to design work and distant planning. Luna Rossa is now training directly on the waters where the America’s Cup will be decided.

A dual programme between Naples and Cagliari

Luna Rossa’s campaign is developing simultaneously in two locations. In Naples, the AC40 yachts are being used to improve the team’s knowledge of the race area and continue crew training. In Cagliari, work continues on the AC75 that will compete in the main stages of the America’s Cup.

This divided programme allows the team to progress both technically and competitively. In high-performance sailing, even a small change in wind direction or sea conditions can influence manoeuvres, tactical decisions and the overall setup of the yacht.

Max Sirena calls on Italian supporters

For Max Sirena, CEO of Luna Rossa, sailing on the official racecourse represents an important step towards the 2027 event. Alongside the technical programme, the relationship between the team and Naples is also growing, supported by the enthusiasm shown during the first training sessions in the Gulf.

His message to sailing fans is clear, support Luna Rossa and come to Naples for an event expected to attract spectators from around the world. The city’s passionate sporting culture could become part of the spectacle, turning the waterfront into a natural grandstand overlooking the racecourse.

The preliminary regatta will be the first major test

Before the main event in 2027, Naples will experience the atmosphere of the America’s Cup from 24 to 27 September 2026, when the city hosts the second preliminary regatta of the cycle.

The races will be held with AC40 yachts and will offer the first opportunity to watch the international teams compete in the same setting that will later welcome the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup Match.

The preliminary event will also allow organisers to test the sporting, operational and logistical aspects of the competition. For crews and technical teams, it will provide valuable real-world data about the Gulf, beyond simulations and shore-based forecasts.

Bagnoli prepares for the America’s Cup

The road to the America’s Cup also includes the redevelopment of the Bagnoli area, which is expected to host a significant part of the facilities and activities connected with the event.

The regeneration programme involves the Municipality of Naples, the Campania Region, the Italian Government, Sport e Salute and other institutions. The competition is therefore becoming part of a broader project in which sport, urban renewal and maritime culture come together.

The objective extends beyond the weeks of racing and includes the legacy that such a major international event could leave to the city.

Six Challengers target the New Zealand Defender

Emirates Team New Zealand will arrive in Naples as Defender after retaining the America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024. Six Challenger teams will attempt to end the New Zealand campaign and earn a place in the final Match.

Among them, Luna Rossa will once again carry the expectations of Italian sailing. The journey towards 10 July 2027 remains long and will involve technical development, crew selection, training sessions and preliminary events. Naples, however, has already begun to watch the foiling yachts cross its Gulf.

An Italian challenge in the heart of the Mediterranean

Hosting the America’s Cup in Italy for the first time will inevitably change the relationship between the competition and the local audience.

The AC75 yachts, capable of lifting above the water on their foils and reaching remarkable speeds, will race against the unmistakable backdrop of Mount Vesuvius, Castel dell’Ovo and the Naples waterfront.

For Luna Rossa, this will be an America’s Cup unlike any previous campaign, contested in front of a home crowd and in one of the Mediterranean’s most recognisable settings.

Much work remains before the first Match begins, but the countdown has now entered the stage when the project starts to feel like a real event.

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www.americascup.com

23 July 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
America’s Cup 2027, Naples prepares to welcome Luna Rossa
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