NAPLES, Italy -- American sailing will maintain its storied presence in the America's Cup after Sail Newport's official entry secured the United States' participation in the 2027 competition. The American Racing Challenger Team USA, representing the Rhode Island-based sailing organization, was confirmed Wednesday as a challenger for the regatta scheduled off the coast of Naples.
The announcement comes as a relief to American sailing enthusiasts after the New York Yacht Club's American Magic team announced in October it would not enter, potentially leaving the competition without a U.S. challenger for the first time in the event's 173-year history. The new team has acquired critical sailing assets from American Magic, including the AC75 yacht Patriot and two AC40 platforms.
American boats have dominated the America's Cup throughout its history, winning a record 25 times and holding the trophy continuously from the first race in 1851 until Australia II's historic victory in 1983.
The challenge represents "the vision of entrepreneurs Karel Komárek and Chris Welch," according to team statements. They have appointed veteran American yachtsman Ken Read to lead the campaign. Read, a Massachusetts native and 2023 Sailing Hall of Fame inductee, brings extensive America's Cup experience having helmed three previous campaigns while also serving as a prominent television commentator for the event.
"Having the opportunity to represent the United States once again in the America's Cup is a tremendous honor," Read said. "We're under no illusion about the challenges ahead and we're fully focused on building a team that can win the Cup. We are looking forward to building a program that American sailors can be proud of and establishing a legacy that endures well into the future."
America's Cup Partnership CEO Marzio Perrelli, whose appointment was announced Tuesday, expressed strong support for the American entry. "Having a strong representative team from the USA is something that we welcome, and in American Racing Challenger Team USA they have an impressive management team that have already acquired the assets of American Magic," Perrelli said. "This makes Sail Newport's challenge a real contender and we look forward to working with the team going forward."
With the addition of the American team, six boats are now confirmed for the 2027 America's Cup. Defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand will face challenges from Britain's GB1 (the challenger of record), Italy's Luna Rossa, Switzerland's Tudor Team Alinghi, and France's La Roche-Posay Racing Team.
The competition schedule includes a preliminary regatta in Cagliari, Sardinia, next month, building toward the main event scheduled to begin in July 2027. American Magic, the team whose assets were acquired by the new challenger, previously represented the U.S. in two America's Cup campaigns, reaching the semifinals both times before being eliminated.
