Legal battle could ruin America’s Cup bid

Sir Ben Ainslie is concerned his court case with Sir Jim Ratcliffe could derail his bid to win the America’s Cup for Great Britain.

Ainslie, the team principal of GB1, who will challenge for the cup in Naples next year, said the legal squabble over who owns the boat that raced in Barcelona in 2024 “feels personal” and could act as a distraction to the team.

INEOS Racing, who put £174million into the attempt to win the America’s Cup, maintain that the yacht is legally theirs and, after the acrimonious split with Ainslie’s Athena Racing, have lodged a legal claim to take possession of it. – 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.

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
• American Racing Challenger Team USA (USA) – Challenger
• Team Australia (AUS) – 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 22-24, 2026 – Cagliari, Italy
September 24-27 – Naples, Italy

* The Protocol noted how there would be as many Preliminary Regattas as possible, with the intent to have three during 2026 and one possibly in early 2027, and a final event at the Match Venue immediately prior to the challenger series. Only two have been thus far revealed.