The submission window for the 38th America's Cup officially concluded on March 31, 2026, marking a critical milestone on the path to the 2027 competition in Naples. Despite expectations of an immediate announcement clarifying the final competitor list, the America's Cup Partnership (ACP) has maintained silence regarding the total number of accepted entries and their identities.
The organizing body, which is positioning itself as the permanent governance structure for the event, had been anticipated to release a formal statement. This delay comes amid broader questions about the ACP's legitimacy in this role from some quarters of the sailing community.
What remains certain is that five teams have successfully met the entry requirements. The defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, will face off against four challengers: the Challenger of Record Athena Racing (representing Great Britain as GB1), Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, Switzerland's Alinghi Red Bull Racing, and the French entry, which now competes under the sponsor name La Roche-Posay Racing Team, formerly known as K-Challenge.
While no official announcement has been made, the ACP confirmed to Reuters that discussions with additional potential challengers are actively ongoing. The organization issued a brief note acknowledging that entries had been received and that participant names would be disclosed at a later date.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, one additional challenger has likely secured its entry but awaits formal confirmation, while a second team appears highly probable. This fluid situation may explain the ACP's current reluctance to issue a definitive final tally; although the deadline could not be officially extended, practical timing constraints appear to allow for some flexibility.
One potential new entry is a United States-based initiative linked to Czech billionaire Karel Komárek. The primary hurdle for this syndicate is identifying a yacht club to officially lodge the challenge. As reported by Fabio Pozzo in La Stampa, the historic New York Yacht Club may not be available, potentially requiring another U.S. club to step forward as the official challenger.
Another expected challenger is an Australian effort involving high-profile sailing figures Glenn Ashby and Tom Slingsby. While the financial backing for this campaign remains unclear, the most significant obstacle is securing a competitive AC75 yacht.
This represents a major technical constraint under the 38th America's Cup Protocol, which mandates that teams must reuse an existing AC75 hull, updated to new class rules, with permission to develop new foils. New teams may build a yacht based on an existing design package, but the timelines are exceptionally tight. The most competitive option would likely involve acquiring the design package from American Magic, which both the potential American and Australian teams are believed to be targeting.
A third team facing yacht acquisition challenges is the British Challenger of Record, Athena Racing. The ownership and use of the AC75 Britannia is currently subject to a legal dispute between former sponsor Ineos and the team management. Should the British team be left without a yacht, an alternative could be Te Rehutai, the AC75 used by Team New Zealand to win the 36th Cup in Auckland. However, that same vessel could also be of interest to the Australian team.
With the road to Naples 2027 already underway, attention now turns to the upcoming Preliminary Regattas in Cagliari, scheduled for May 21–24, and the awaited official communication that will clarify the final competitor lineup and event schedule.
A final note concerns event governance: The ACP appears unconcerned by a legal challenge filed in New York court by America's Cup veteran John Sweeney, who contests the current governance structure. As reported by Il Sole 24 Ore, the case may be dismissed, but if it proceeds, it could subject the mutual agreement among teams to increased legal scrutiny regarding its compliance with the event's founding Deed of Gift.
