Inside AC: Women on the wheel

Inside America’s Cup with host Niall Myant-Best is the official podcast of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, with each episode going under the surface of one of the most competitive and secretive sports events in the world, and explaining the decisions that separate winning from losing.

In this segment, Myant-Best asks the question… When will a woman helm an America’s Cup AC75?

For 175 years, the America’s Cup was a men’s sport, but for the first time in history, every team must have a woman among the crew for the 38th edition. While women have been involved as far back as the 19th century, will they be on the helm in 2027?

To answer this question, Jo Aleh – the first woman ever to sail an AC75 – Hannah Mills, Odile van Aanholt, and Nathan Outteridge discuss what it will take to put a woman on the wheel in the world’s most storied and historic yacht race.

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.