America’s Cup in Naples without US-made challengers. Only three safe boats at the moment

For the first time in 38 editions, the America’s Cup will not have an American team at the start. American Magic, the American team that represented the New York Yacht Club in the last two editions of the oldest sailing trophy in the world, has officially announced that it will not take part in the 2027 edition scheduled in Naples. “We are deeply connected to the America’s Cup and what it represents, but for a team oriented towards long-term excellence, a balance between economic sustainability and sporting performance is fundamental – said Doug DeVos, Team Principal of American Magic -. At the moment, we believe that these conditions are not present. We will focus our resources on the development of athletes and technologies”.

last hours

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The Americans’ step back confirms the moment of great difficulty that the America’s Cup is experiencing. The time window for the registration of new challengers closes on Friday 31st and at the moment only New Zealand, defender of the old jug, and the British Athena Racing, challenger of record of the event (the challenger consortium which formally launches the challenge to the holders). They will be joined in these hours by Luna Rossa who will face the challenge with the colors of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples. Italian team that in recent months has achieved an important market coup by signing Peter Burling, helmsman of the New Zealand boat that won the America’s Cup in the last three editions. With the memorandum of understanding signed by the defender and challenger of record, which provides for the use of hulls from the AC75s from the last edition, the range of teams that could formalize their participation in the Louis Vuitton Cup and subsequently in the 38th America’s Cup in the last few hours is reduced to two: the French of Orient Express/K-Challenge, who have never spoken out on the subject, and the Swiss of Alinghi.

at the window

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The team that won the America’s Cup twice (2003, 2007) has not yet officially announced its renunciation and remains on the sidelines. It is no mystery that Alinghi does not like some choices – above all the obligation to use old hulls and not promote new designs – but, if in the last few hours there is a rapprochement between the parties regarding the memorandum of understanding signed by New Zealand and Athena Racing, the Swiss could also dissolve their reservations and announce their participation. In New Zealand they are optimistic that a surprise fifth candidate could be added to these scenarios.

the government

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“We will make the America’s Cup in Naples a great success, it will be unforgettable.” On the stage set up inside Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome, on May 26, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thus presented the event expected in Naples in spring-summer 2027. But at the moment a three-way America’s Cup is looming. While waiting to understand whether there will be an enlargement of the challengers or whether the closing of the time window for registration will even be postponed, work has begun in Naples in the Bagnoli area, the one that will have to be reclaimed to accommodate the team bases while the regatta field will be set up between Posillipo and Castel dell’Ovo. At least one preliminary event (with the AC40s) is expected in the Campania capital as early as 2026, and another before the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2027.