Founding teams unite to unleash the potential of the America’s Cup, introducing a professional structure and stable sporting calendar to the 174-year-old competition.
The America’s Cup Partnership (ACP) today announces the formation of an historic alliance between the founding teams of sailing’s pinnacle event. This marks a transformative moment in the 174-year history of the competition, creating a unified entity dedicated to the long-term stability and growth of the America’s Cup. The five founding teams — Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Athena Racing (GBR), Luna Rossa (ITA), Tudor Team Alinghi (SUI), and K-Challenge (FRA) — have united to create an exciting new future for the world’s oldest sporting competition. This follows the Protocol agreement between Emirates Team New Zealand as Defender and Athena Racing as Challenger of Record announced in August 2025, which set the terms for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples and paved the way for the America’s Cup Partnership.
“This is about preserving what makes the America’s Cup extraordinary while building a sustainable model that benefits everyone who shares our passion for this great competition,” said Grant Dalton, CEO of Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand. “We are securing the position of the America’s Cup at the pinnacle of innovation and professional sport for decades to come.”
A new era for the Auld Mug
First contested with a race around the Isle of Wight in 1851, the America’s Cup — affectionately known as the “Auld Mug” — predates the modern Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup. It is recognised as the oldest international trophy in world sport.
Yet the competition has never been trapped in the past and was founded on its relentless pursuit of the impossible. The original winning yacht, the Schooner America, revolutionised naval architecture with its sharp bow and flat sails, reaching top speeds of approximately 14 knots. Since then, repeated cycles of innovation — from the “winged keel” in 1983 to the introduction of hydro foiling into yacht racing in 2013 by Emirates Team New Zealand — have pushed the boundaries of what’s achievable on water.
The America’s Cup stands as one of sport’s most demanding technical challenges, with only four nations lifting the trophy across its 174-year history. The competition’s AC75 yachts demonstrate this — reaching speeds of 55.6 knots (102.9 km/h), housing electronics with computing power equivalent to five Formula 1 cars, monitoring over 30,000 data channels, and requiring more than 1 trillion simulation core hours during design and development. Therefore, the newly formed Partnership will ensure technology remains at the forefront of the Cup.
“The ACP will ensure the America’s Cup remains the ultimate proving ground for the world’s best sailors and technological advancements,” said Sir Ben Ainslie, Team Principal of Athena Racing. “It allows us to continue pushing the boundaries of naval architecture and sailing technology, maintaining the Cup’s tradition as a catalyst for innovation, while providing the stability needed to grow our audience.”
Key features of the new Partnership include:
Biennial cycle
A commitment to a regular, fixed racing calendar of an America’s Cup every two years — creating a set moment that fans can look forward to, growing the race’s global audience and fanbase, and allowing teams, sponsors and broadcasters to plan ahead and invest long term.
Independent management
An independent, best-in-class management team focused solely on delivering sporting excellence and commercial opportunity for the America’s Cup, whilst ensuring consistent operations from one event to the next.
Economic sustainability
Shared revenues and new cost control measures creating higher levels of competition and a more level playing field, while also ensuring the America’s Cup remains at the forefront of sailing innovation.
Future focused
A continued commitment to the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup, creating accessible and diverse pathways into the sport — including at least one female onboard the AC75 race boat at the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.
“The birth of the America’s Cup Partnership marks a historic moment for the oldest competition in international sport. Luna Rossa has chosen to join a project aimed at ensuring stability, sustainability, and continuity for the America’s Cup, while respecting its values and its capacity for innovation. A responsible choice toward the sport, our fans, and future generations of Italian sailors.” said Max Sirena, CEO Luna Rossa.
This partnership is the embodiment of a collective commitment to further elevating sailing on the global sporting stage, whilst remaining true to the America’s Cup’s traditions, values, and competitive spirit,” said Ernesto Bertarelli, owner of Tudor Team Alinghi. “By working together to create a more transparent and collaborative structure, we’re ensuring that this iconic competition will thrive for generations to come. We are proud to be part of its foundation, while renewing and strengthening our long-term partnership with Tudor.”
Stephan Kandler, co-CEO of K-Challenge said “France is an historic country for sailing and in the America’s Cup. K-Challenge has been involved since 2001 in various French Challenges; it therefore became a mission to be involved in the America’s Cup’s future as one of the founding members of the new Partnership, alongside legendary teams like Emirates Team New Zealand, Athena Racing, Luna Rossa and Tudor Team Alinghi. It will reinforce the exposure and image of the America’s Cup. It is a fantastic opportunity for the event and the teams to grow it at the same level as other leading sport properties.”
The five founding teams will together present further details of the Partnership on January 21st 2026 in Naples, Italy with dates of the America’s Cup Match revealed.
The entry period for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup remains open until January 31st 2026, for potential new additional teams to join ACP and the competition in Naples in 2027.
About the America’s Cup Partnership
The America’s Cup Partnership brings together all competing teams and yacht clubs to collectively shape the future of sailing’s most iconic competition. Founded by Emirates Team New Zealand, Athena Racing, Luna Rossa, Tudor Team Alinghi and K-Challenge, the Partnership honours the traditions of the America’s Cup while evolving the contest to ensure its relevance and sustainability for generations to come.
About the America’s Cup
First contested in 1851, the America’s Cup is the oldest international trophy in world sport. The competition began with a race around the Isle of Wight, where the yacht America defeated a fleet of 15 British yachts. The race was watched by Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington. When the Queen asked who was leading, she was told it was the America. When she asked who was second, the famous reply — which became the motto of the Cup — was given: “Ah, Your Majesty, there is no second.”
Since that founding race, there have been only 37 competitions for the trophy in 174 years, making it one of the hardest prizes to win in sport. It brings together the world’s most talented sailors, designers and engineers in pursuit of sporting immortality, each racing under the burgee (flag) of a recognised Yacht Club from their respective country.
The last edition, the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, held in Barcelona, Spain, in 2024 attracted over 1.8 million spectators and a total global broadcast audience of 954 million. This translated to a media value in excess of €1.4 billion.
The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup will take place in Naples, Italy, in 2027. The event will see the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, face the world’s best Challengers in the natural amphitheatre of the Bay of Naples, continuing a 174-year legacy of excellence.
The America’s Cup is defined by a unique structure involving a Defender (the team that currently holds the trophy) and a Challenger of Record (the first team to challenge). For the first time, the current Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, and the Challenger of Record, Athena Racing have moved beyond the traditional cycle-by-cycle negotiation. Instead, they have come together with three other teams to unleash the full, global potential of the America’s Cup and forge an exciting new legacy.
