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America’s Cup, Naples prepares for three days of racing off the city

From 25 to 27 September, Naples hosts a Preliminary Regatta of the 38th America’s Cup, with the AC40s racing just off the waterfront

Luna Rossa arrives in Naples following its success in Sardinia. Nine crews, emerging talent and three days of racing in the Bay

In one month’s time the AC40s will meet again, this time against the backdrop of the Bay of Naples. From 25 to 27 September 2026, the city will host the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta, three days of racing directly off the waterfront and another opportunity to assess the balance between the teams on the road to the next America’s Cup.

For Luna Rossa, Naples will also be an opportunity to build on what was achieved in Sardinia in May, where the Italian crews made their presence felt both in the main competition and through the Women & Youth programme.

From Sardinia to Naples, the balance can change

The Sardinian regatta offered the first indications of form, but September comes after several additional months of development and training. Teams have continued working with both the AC40s and AC75s, combining time on the water with simulator sessions that have become an essential part of modern America’s Cup preparation.

Naples therefore cannot simply be expected to reproduce the hierarchy seen in May. The intervening months have given every team an opportunity to correct mistakes, improve coordination and procedures, and develop a deeper understanding of their boats.

Luna Rossa starts again as a winner

In Sardinia, the final brought together Peter Burling and Ruggero Tita for Luna Rossa against Nathan Outteridge and Seb Menzies of Emirates Team New Zealand. The Italian crew took the victory after leading from start to finish.

It was significant not simply for the result, but also for the momentum of the Italian campaign. That victory will inevitably be one of the reference points in Naples, although their rivals will arrive with several more weeks of preparation and the opportunity to challenge the balance established in spring.

A new generation enters the Cup story

One of the most interesting aspects of this stage of the America’s Cup is the increasingly visible role of sailors emerging from the Women & Youth programmes.

In Sardinia, Marco Gradoni and Margherita Porro for Luna Rossa remained among the leading crews until the closing stages. Erica Dawson and Jake Pye also delivered consistent performances for Emirates Team New Zealand, while GB2, then racing as Athena Pathway, secured a memorable race victory.

Naples will provide another indication of how far that progression can continue. These are no longer simply young sailors gaining experience alongside established names. Through the AC40 pathway, a generation is emerging that is likely to play an important role in future editions of the America’s Cup.

Nine crews with something to prove

The fleet will comprise nine crews, with several teams arriving in Naples determined to move forward.

TUDOR Team Alinghi and La Roche-Posay Racing Team both showed improving form towards the end of the Sardinian event, while GB1, the Challenger of Record, had been forced to miss the opening day because of a mechanical issue before recovering to score a race win.

The American crew will also be worth watching, with a new-look line-up expected to feature Harry Melges IV and Lucas Calabrese as key figures. Melges will renew his rivalry with Marco Gradoni following the 2024 Youth America’s Cup in Barcelona, adding another generational storyline to the Italian event.

Naples will watch the racing from its shoreline

What makes this event distinctive extends beyond the crews themselves. Racing is due to take place just offshore, creating opportunities to follow the action directly from around the Bay and along the Naples waterfront.

The Race Village will be free to enter and will extend along Via Francesco Caracciolo, with large screens, live commentary and a main stage hosting the dock-out and dock-in shows.

It is an arrangement that brings the city into the event rather than placing the competition far offshore. In Naples, where the relationship with the sea is part of everyday life as much as the landscape, the sight of AC40s racing immediately off the waterfront could open the America’s Cup to an audience extending well beyond traditional sailing followers.

Three days before a winner-takes-all final

The sporting programme begins on Friday 25 September with three fleet races, followed by another three races on Saturday 26 September.

Two more fleet races are scheduled for Sunday 27 September. At the end of those races, the top two crews will advance to the final: a single winner-takes-all race will decide the Naples Preliminary Regatta.

It is a format that concentrates everything into one final encounter and leaves little room for calculation. Following Sardinia, Naples will provide another opportunity to discover which teams have developed fastest and how rapidly the competitive landscape of the 38th America’s Cup is changing.

The Mediterranean returns to the centre of international sailing

First Sardinia, now Naples. The road towards the 38th America’s Cup is building an important part of its story in Italian waters and across the Mediterranean.

In September, the Bay of Naples will provide a very different setting from Sardinia, while retaining one important feature: the ability to combine top-level racing with a direct relationship between the event and its surroundings.

For three days Naples will be more than a backdrop. The waters in front of the city will become the racecourse, while spectators along the waterfront will be able to watch a competition that is simultaneously testing established champions and revealing the sailors who may shape the next generation of the America’s Cup.

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(c) 38th America’s Cup

25 August 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
America’s Cup, Naples prepares for three days of racing off the city
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The information in this article has been sourced from and adapted from official sources and/or press releases, in accordance with our editorial code of ethics.