The timing is notable. Just one day earlier, five of the Cup’s most established teams unveiled a new alliance designed to bring greater structure and regularity to the event. Emirates Team New Zealand, Athena Racing, Luna Rossa, Tudor Alinghi, and France’s rebranded K Challenge have committed to a shared framework that places continuity and predictability at the centre of future Cups.
A US campaign taking shape
The US campaign is not yet a confirmed challenger, but the agreement with Harken marks a clear step forward. Harken is a long-standing supplier at the top end of professional sailing, with deep involvement in grand prix racing and multiple America’s Cup cycles. Its support adds weight to a campaign that is still in the process of assembling funding and infrastructure.
Riptide Racing is led by Chris Poole, the current world number one match racing skipper, and is working with the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club. The team previously announced Pindar by Manuport Logistics as a logistics partner and has indicated that further commercial agreements are expected.
Funding, deadlines, and pressure
The scale of the syndicate’s task remains substantial. Riptide Racing has outlined a total campaign budget of up to USD $50 million, including USD $30 million required to meet the late entry deadline of 31 January 2026. Reaching that threshold is critical if the United States is to remain represented in the America’s Cup.
That point carries historical weight. The New York Yacht Club defended the trophy for 132 years, and American programmes shaped the Cup’s development for much of its existence. Today, however, there is no US team involved in the group now determining how the event will operate in the AC75 era and beyond.
The wider America’s Cup context
Riptide Racing’s push reflects the changing nature of the Cup. As the competition moves toward longer-term programmes and tighter governance, campaigns built around single appearances are becoming harder to sustain. Securing partners early is no longer optional.
For New Zealand readers, the contrast is clear. While established teams consolidate their position within a new Cup structure, the American challenge is still being rebuilt. Whether Riptide Racing can convert momentum into a confirmed entry will be decided over the next twelve months.
What is already clear is that the modern America’s Cup now rewards early commitment and organisational depth. On that measure, the race has already begun.
America’s Cup Partnership forms, but where is the United States?
