Do sponsors get to keep the boat?

On his Yacht Racing Business publication, David Fuller reviews the latest America’s Cup drama between Jim Ratcliffe, chairman and chief executive officer of the INEOS chemicals group, and 5-time Olympic medalist and America’s Cup campaigner Ben Ainslie. Here’s an excerpt:

It seems the only people who reliably win in any given America’s Cup cycle are lawyers. The New York Yacht Club spent decades defending the trophy in the courts rather than on the water, and the tradition appears to be in good health.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group has announced it is taking legal action against Sir Ben Ainslie’s Athena Racing to recover the AC75 yacht used in the 2024 America’s Cup in Barcelona, a boat Ineos says cost £180m to build, part of a total £350m outlay across two Cup cycles.

The dispute centres on a question that should have been settled before a penny was spent: did Ineos’s funding buy ownership of assets, or merely the right to put its name on the hull and the sails? – Full report

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

Defender New Zealand and Challenger of Record from Great Britain confirmed the Protocol for the 38th America’s Cup on August 12, 2025. The close of the initial entry period was October 31, 2025, with late entries considered up to March 31, 2026. If no USA team participates in the 38th America’s Cup, it will be the first time in the event’s 175-year history.

Current entrants:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) – Defender
• Athena Racing (GBR) – Challenger of Record
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger
• Tudor Team Alinghi (SUI) – Challenger
• La Roche-Posay Racing Team (FRA) – Challenger

After the 2024 event, Barcelona, Spain declined hosting another edition, with the venue moved to Naples, Italy. Challenger racing begins in the spring before the 38th Match on July 10-18, 2027.

Preliminary Regattas:*
May 21-24 – Cagliari, Sardinia

* More are to be announced.