America’s Cup: Rally cry for USA team

America’s Cup challenger ARC Team USA and US Sailing have formed a strategic partnership designed to bring sailing communities across the United States closer to the team’s America’s Cup campaign.

Working alongside US Sailing and the team’s home sailing club, Sail Newport, the partnership will focus on building a national fan-engagement program that gives yacht clubs, community sailing organizations, sailors, and sailing fans tangible ways to connect with and support ARC Team USA.

“This new era of the America’s Cup offers an opportunity for sailor and fan inclusion like never before,” said Ken Read, CEO of ARC Team USA. “Our ambition is not limited to what happens on the racecourse. From day one, we have made it clear that ARC Team USA will build something that people across American sailing can feel part of.

“We want people to understand what we’re doing, follow the racing, meet the people behind the team and feel like ARC Team USA is their team. Building a national community of sailing clubs, sailors and fans around ARC Team USA, and bringing them with us on the journey to Naples, will be incredibly powerful for our team and for the sport.”

At the center of the collaboration will be the development of an ARC Fan Network, creating a simple way for US Sailing-affiliated yacht clubs and community sailing organizations across the country to formally get behind the American challenger.

Participating organizations will be able to receive regular team and race-weekend updates, digital content, and activation materials, while choosing from a range of opportunities to engage their members with the campaign.

ARC Team USA and US Sailing will also develop content designed to bring the America’s Cup into the clubhouse, helping fans better understand the racing, technology, and people behind the campaign. Content could include race previews, team updates, and explainers covering topics such as foiling, race starts, weather, strategy, and the roles of different crew members.

A series of virtual Inside ARC sessions will provide US Sailing members and participating clubs with opportunities to hear directly from ARC Team USA sailors, coaches, designers, and other members of the campaign. Clubs and members will also be able to submit questions through an Ask ARC feature for selected team members to answer.

The long-term ambition is to create a visible national community behind the pinnacle events in sailing and ARC Team USA, with yacht clubs across the United States actively following and supporting the team throughout the America’s Cup campaign.

The partnership is another demonstration of ARC Team USA’s commitment to delivering an impact that extends beyond the racecourse. While the team’s immediate focus is competing for the America’s Cup, it also wants to help create greater excitement, understanding, and engagement around the sport in the United States.

“America’s Cup racing has an incredible ability to inspire sailors and bring people into our sport, and we want to make sure that excitement reaches sailing communities across the country,” said Charlie Enright, CEO of US Sailing.

“This partnership with ARC Team USA gives US Sailing members and yacht clubs and community sailing organizations a meaningful way to follow the campaign, learn more about the people and technology behind it, and rally around an American team.”

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: US Sailing