Challengers worried about America’s Cup

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
It was a day after the Scuttlebutt report Does the America’s Cup have a pulse? when the Defender announced the venue for the 38th edition to be Naples, Italy. Great, I thought, the ball is rolling. Apparently not, as the Challenger of Record and USA Challenger distribute coordinated press releases on May 22, 2025:

• Athena Racing, representing Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd. as Challenger of Record for the 38th America’s Cup, is concerned by the ongoing lack of transparency around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027 and the impact this is having on the main goal of negotiating a fair sporting protocol. - Full report

• Over the past seven years, we’ve competed with pride, purpose, and perseverance in two editions of the America’s Cup. It has been an honor to represent the New York Yacht Club and the United States on the global stage in one of the most storied competitions in sport. As we look ahead to the 38th America’s Cup, we find ourselves at a crossroads and feel that we must provide an update to our teammates, partners, donors, and supporters. – Full report

If there’s any good news, it’s that these challengers are getting some teeth.

After the New Zealand team had a rough relationship with Italy as Challenger of Record in 2021, they chose the Brits in 2024, and it was all rainbows and butterflies. Not anymore. As for USA, team leader Terry Hutchinson is always ready to play the game by whatever rules are in front of him, but even his team is calling bullsh#t. Finally!

Not surprisingly, the Defender disagrees with the challengers, issuing a statement to say how they have been “working closely and positively with all teams on moving the America’s Cup to a new collaborative Partnership and structure to strengthen the future of the America’s Cup for the benefit of the event and all current and future teams.”

They also made it known that the Challenger of Record had seen the latest version of the Protocol, prior to the venue announcement, but has not offered any feedback. In an illustration of transparency, they posted online the latest draft version.

However, if the Kiwi ship is sinking, let’s recognize the brilliance of Peter Burling. After three consecutive wins as New Zealand’s skipper, he moved on before getting his shoes wet. Is his replacement Nathan Outteridge dead man walking? Standing by!

Details: https://www.americascup.com/

No entries have yet been submitted for the 38th America’s Cup as Defender New Zealand works with the Challenger of Record from Great Britain to organize the event. The two teams have agreed on some details with the venue moved to Naples, Italy after Barcelona, Spain declined hosting another edition. Racing will be in the spring and summer of 2027.