The Italy city of Naples will host the second preliminary regatta of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup from September 24 to 27, 2026, bringing eight international challengers and the defending champion to the Gulf of Naples for four days of high-stakes fleet racing aboard foiling AC40 monotypes. The event represents both a critical training opportunity for teams preparing for the 2027 Cup Match and a significant occasion for the sailing community.
Why This Matters
• Training opportunity: The preliminary regatta allows teams to test their AC40 foiling monotypes and prepare strategies for the 2027 America's Cup Match.
• Local infrastructure: Naples has prioritized the Bagnoli waterfront cleanup ahead of the event, supporting long-planned urban regeneration efforts.
• Fleet racing format: Unlike the traditional match-race finals, these preliminaries use a 10-to-2 point scoring system across timed fleet races, rewarding consistency over the four-day span.
Eight Challengers, One Defender
The Naples preliminary will feature nine teams total, including Emirates Team New Zealand as the defending Auld Mug holder. The challenger lineup comprises GB1 (Challenger of Record), Italy's own Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Tudor Team Alinghi from Switzerland, K-Challenge, La Roche-Posay Racing Team, Team Australia, and American Racing Challenger Team USA. Each syndicate will field an AC40 foiling monotype, a smaller one-design sister to the full-scale AC75 boats used in the 2027 Cup Match itself.
The choice of Naples as a preliminary venue reflects the Italy sailing federation's ambition to establish the Gulf as a significant venue for America's Cup cycles. The city will also host the Louis Vuitton Challenger Selection Series and the Match final in July 2027.
Event Schedule: September 22-27
Italy America's Cup organizers released the preliminary schedule in early August. Sea trials and training run from September 9 to 22, giving crews time to prepare and test local conditions.
Practice races are scheduled for September 22 to 24, with team presentations and an active Race Village along the waterfront. Competitive fleet races begin September 25, with three daily time slots: Group A races at 2:10 PM, Group B at 2:46 PM, and Group C at 3:27 PM (local time). The same three-window schedule repeats on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27.
The regatta culminates in a match-race final at 3:27 PM on September 27, pitting the top two teams from the fleet standings in a head-to-head showdown. All times are subject to adjustment based on sea state and wind conditions, which the Race Director may override if conditions fall outside the 7.5 to 21-knot wind range or if wave action prevents safe foiling.
Scoring and Race Rules
Each fleet race awards 10 points to the winner, stepping down by one point per position to 2 points for ninth place. Races carry a 25-minute time limit, and any boat failing to cross the finish line within five minutes of the winner is disqualified from that heat. If light air delays the fleet's progress to the first mark beyond seven minutes, the Race Committee may abandon and restart.
Courses follow a windward-leeward layout with gate options at the top and bottom, allowing tactical choices on mark roundings. At least two legs must be completed for a race to count toward the standings. All races finish on a downwind leg, a format designed to maximize spectator visibility from shore and broadcast helicopters.
What This Means for Naples Residents
The preliminary regatta will draw international sailing enthusiasts and visitors to the Naples waterfront. Local residents interested in viewing the races should plan ahead, as popular areas along the waterfront will likely see increased foot traffic during September 24-27. The Race Village will feature sponsor pavilions, food vendors, and live broadcast screens for spectators.
Residents planning to visit the waterfront during race days should allow extra time for travel and consider alternative routes. Accommodations in the city center may experience increased demand during the event period.
Bagnoli and Long-Term Development
The Italy Ministry of Infrastructure has prioritized work on the long-delayed Bagnoli bonifica (environmental remediation) ahead of the America's Cup events. This includes demolition of derelict structures, seabed dredging, and site stabilization. Temporary team bases will use modular structures that can be removed after the 2027 Match, leaving space for planned long-term development including the envisioned Parco dello Sport di Bagnoli, a public sports complex.
These infrastructure efforts align with Naples' broader commitment to revitalizing the waterfront for future events and community use.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The September 2026 preliminary serves as a planning benchmark for the Italy race management team and provides a venue test for the larger 2027 events. The preliminary regatta establishes a merit order among challengers but does not directly determine 2027 qualification; the Challenger Series will employ its own format to select the team that faces Emirates Team New Zealand for the Auld Mug.
Unlike these preliminaries, the 2027 events will feature the full-size AC75 foiling monohulls, capable of speeds exceeding 50 knots. For Naples, the preliminary regatta offers the sailing community a chance to compete on the Gulf and provides the organizing committee practical experience ahead of the larger international event planned for 2027.
