Way outside the America’s Cup box

Mike Taggett is a techie fan of the America’s Cup, and has followed the AC75 since its inception for the 36th edition. With the new USA challenge now getting organized, and considering how it wants to build a national team from a country short on experience, he offered this idea:

If I needed American helms, what would I do?

The America’s Cup boats are unlike anything anyone has ever sailed, so I would look outside of sailing to comparable sports. Thinking outside the box, I would find a 20-year-old that has come up the ladder in motocross or road racing which has developed the scrappiness, twitch factor, and instantaneous judgment needed.

I would then sit them down in the simulators already developed, and apply their current skills to learn the fundamentals of sailing. Driving these boats is essentially riding a MotoGP bike or a AA fueler on the water, and I think about 20 years old is the sweet spot. Just a crazy idea, but the boats are no longer designed by naval architects, so why not replace sailors with riders?

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

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, 2026 – Cagliari, Sardinia

* More are to be announced.