America’s Cup: Revealing ARC Team USA

The American Racing Challenger Team USA (USA), a late entry for the 38th America’s Cup, took another step toward the 2027 Match. Now referred to as ARC Team USA (thank you for shortening!), a crew list has been revealed.

With five crew needed for the AC75, the founding sailing squad includes a blend of Olympic success, America’s Cup experience, and emerging talent. The initial lineup comprises Lucas Calabrese, Riley Gibbs, Hans Henken, Harry Melges IV, Michael Menninger, and Louisa Nordstrom.

“This group represents exactly what we’re trying to build,” noted Ken Read, ARC Team USA CEO. “They bring world-class experience, proven performance at the highest levels of our sport, and the potential to help shape the future of American sailing.

“As we continue to build our challenge, we’re committed to creating opportunities for the next generation of talent and establishing a program that can compete at the highest level for years to come. Each of these sailors has demonstrated not only exceptional ability on the water, but also the versatility, work ethic and mindset required to help build something bigger than a single campaign.”

ARC Team USA Sailing Director Giles Scott said the selection reflected the team’s ambition to build a group capable of growing and evolving throughout the campaign.

“Between them, this group has competed and succeeded at the very highest levels of our sport, but what really stands out is their toughness, versatility, and willingness to keep learning and developing,” said Scott. “Just as importantly, they understand what it takes to contribute to a high-performing team.

“We’re building a squad rather than defining fixed roles from day one. The America’s Cup demands adaptable athletes who can evolve alongside the program, and we believe this group gives us an incredibly strong foundation to build the team from.”

From left: Hans Henken, Lucas Calabrese, Louisa Nordstrom, Harry Melges Iv, Michael Menninger, Riley Gibbs

Background details:

Lucas Calabrese, born December 12th 1986, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Olympic bronze medalist Lucas Calabrese is one of the most accomplished sailors in the squad. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and now a U.S. citizen, Calabrese won bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the 470 class. He is also an Optimist World Champion, a two-time TP52 World Champion, and a world champion in both the Melges 20 and J/70 classes. He was a key member of the American Magic campaign during the 37th America’s Cup.

Riley Gibbs, born November 3rd 1996, Long Beach, California: Riley Gibbs represented Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the Nacra 17 class and competed previously as part of the United States SailGP Team. A versatile foiling sailor, Gibbs has achieved top-five finishes at world championship level across three different classes and was part of the USA America’s Cup campaign in Barcelona in 2024.

Hans Henken, born June 4th 1992, Laguna Beach, California: Hans Henken is a Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist in the 49er class and the 2024 U.S. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year. As the Flight Controller for the United States SailGP Team and an aerospace engineer with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University, Henken brings a rare combination of elite foiling experience and advanced technical expertise to his first America’s Cup campaign with ARC Team USA.

Harry Melges IV, born May 16th 2001, Fontana, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: Harry Melges IV carries forward one of the most celebrated family legacies in sailing. A winner of the 2025 TP52 Super Series and the 2021 US Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award, Melges has secured eight national championships across multiple classes, is a current member of the US SailGP Team, and skippered the NYYC American Magic Youth America’s Cup Team to a runner-up finish in Barcelona in 2024.

Michael Menninger, born July 7th 1989, Newport Beach California: Michael Menninger brings extensive experience from elite sailing programs, including the America’s Cup, SailGP and offshore racing. A former Red Bull Youth America’s Cup helmsman, Match Racing World Champion, Team Racing World Champion and Etchells World Champion, Menninger was the starboard trimmer onboard the USA America’s Cup campaign in Barcelona. He is currently wing trimmer for the United States SailGP Team, where he has played an important role in the team’s resurgence from the bottom of the standings to competing towards the front of the fleet.

Louisa Nordstrom, born May 25th 1998, Sweden, raised in Sarasota, Florida: Louisa Nordstrom brings experience across collegiate, Olympic, professional and America’s Cup sailing to ARC Team USA. Nordstrom is a four-time All-American at Yale who campaigned in the 470 class for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games before competing in the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup in Barcelona. She has also gained valuable experience racing onboard the high-performance F50, joining the U.S. SailGP Team in June 2026 following three appearances with the team during the 2025 season as part of its development program.

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
• GB1 (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 is May 22 to July 4 before the 38th Match on July 10-19. Full details.

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.

Source: America’s Cup