This week, when SailGP announced it would be cancelling its much-anticipated Rio de Janeiro event in May 2025 due to wingsail issues, the disappointment was immediate and deeply felt — especially in Brazil. It wasn’t just the loss of a highly-exciting sailing spectacle; it was a missed opportunity for South America’s most iconic city to stand centre stage in the sailing world.
But could that same disappointment pave the way for something far greater?
Rio de Janeiro was one of the first cities to express interest in hosting the 38th America’s Cup in 2027. Since then, much of the attention has shifted to Europe — with Athens (backed by Greek billionaire George Prokopiou), and Valencia emerging as serious contenders. Auckland, a past host, was ruled out early due to a lack of government support. That leaves the door open. Emirates Team New Zealand, as defenders of the Cup, will make their venue announcement by June 2025.
In the wake of SailGP’s cancellation, the question becomes: could Rio become a surprise host contender again — and should it?
The SailGP cancellation was due to a serious technical fault in the wingsails of the F50 fleet. After the Australian team’s wing collapse in San Francisco, SailGP engineers identified structural issues that required urgent repair across the fleet. Safety rightly came first, and the Rio event was pulled from the calendar.
Brazil’s SailGP driver, Olympic champion Martine Grael, spoke of the “shock” at losing an event that meant so much to the local sailing community. She also noted the scale of interest and support from people well beyond the sailing bubble — a rare and exciting development. “It’s exciting in a way,” she said, “to see how sailing is passing beyond being something niche.”
Which brings us back to the America’s Cup. The event’s current holders, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Emirates Team New Zealand (now sans Peter Burling), have yet to name a venue for 2027. And after Barcelona’s runaway success as host of AC37 — bringing in €1.034 billion in economic benefits and drawing over 1.8 million visitors — there’s a growing awareness that the America’s Cup can be more than just an elite sailing contest. It can be a cultural moment, an economic engine, and a global showcase for a city.
In my opinion, Rio de Janeiro has all the ingredients to match or even exceed that success.
Let’s start with the setting. Guanabara Bay, surrounded by mountains, city skyline, and the dramatic presence of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer, is one of the most visually compelling race venues on the planet. There’s natural amphitheatre potential here that few other cities can rival. Add to that the warm climate, consistent sea breezes, and sailing infrastructure built up for the 2016 Olympics — the bones are already in place.
Then there’s the people. Brazilians are famously passionate sports fans. While sailing may not traditionally sit alongside football in the national sporting psyche, that’s changing. The rise of local heroes like Martine Grael and the presence of the Brazil SailGP team have already captured public interest. The emotional reaction to the SailGP cancellation revealed something important: this city is ready and waiting to embrace international sailing.
From a brand and media perspective, Rio is a goldmine. A Cup final played out against the backdrop of Copacabana Beach and the city’s iconic landmarks would be irresistible to broadcasters and sponsors. Brazil’s immense TV market, social media engagement, and time zone alignment with North America and Europe make it a strategic hub for global exposure. And for brands, it’s a chance to associate with a city known for vibrancy, flair, and resilience.
Most importantly, there’s unfinished business. The SailGP cancellation left a vacuum — a sense of what could have been. For Rio to be offered the chance to host the America’s Cup in 2027 would be more than just compensation — it would be a chance to finish what they started.
It would also be an historic moment: the first time the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, visits South America. New territory, new audiences, new energy. Just as Barcelona reshaped expectations with AC37, Rio could take the event even further — delivering a Cup filled with colour, spectacle, and South American passion.
So, if Emirates Team New Zealand are genuinely looking for a venue that can bring something new to the Cup — if they want to go somewhere fresh, somewhere with heart, somewhere that’s ready to welcome the world — Rio de Janeiro must surely be in the conversation.
