America’s Cup Naples: the second Preliminary Regatta in September

The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup lands in the Gulf of Naples: from September 24 to 27, the second Preliminary Regatta will see the debut of American Racing Challenger Team USA, although all eyes will be on the crews of Luna Rossa after their excellent performances in Cagliari.

It will be a true taste of the America’s Cup that will take place along the waterfront of Naples. A taste, but also a very important test, as the teams will step onto the official race course of the competition scheduled for 2027 for the first time.

Luna Rossa not only starts as the home team but also as the one to beat. In May, in Sardinia, several teams arrived at the first Preliminary Regatta with only a few weeks of preparation. Since then, training has intensified, setting the stage for a far more competitive and telling showdown in Naples.

America’s Cup: the protagonists to follow in Naples

The second Preliminary Regatta will allow fans to see two of the most anticipated teams in action: the defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the Challenger of Record GB1, a new project by Sir Ben Ainslie. The English, along with the Athena Pathway team, which combines youth and women, have refined their strategies training in Cagliari, while Emirates Team New Zealand continued their preparation in Auckland before moving to Naples for the summer training session with the two AC40s: one designated for the Principal Team and the other for the Women & Youth Team.

The confirmation of the participation of American Racing Challenger Team USA was a key step for the 2027 edition, which had risked being the first without a U.S. team. The return of an American challenge reflects both the extraordinary legacy of the Cup and a renewed ambition from the United States to compete once again at the highest levels of this sport, under the leadership of CEO Ken Read and sports director Giles Scott.

TUDOR Team Alinghi has continued its preparation in Barcelona under the guidance of Paul Goodison and will field only one crew in Naples. The Roche-Posay Racing Team has trained in Lorient, in the northwest of France, and will participate in the second Preliminary Regatta with its Principal Team, led by Quentin Delapierre. Team Australia, however, will be absent on this occasion.

America’s Cup Naples: the weekend format

On Thursday, September 24, the event will kick off with a practice race, but it will come to life the following day with the first three fleet races, starting at 14:13. The confrontation is expected to conclude around 16:00.

Three more fleet races are scheduled for Saturday, September 26, while only two are planned for Sunday. The two best teams will then advance to the final, with a head-to-head challenge in a single race, one against one, for the absolute title.

America’s Cup: opening and hours of the official village on Caracciolo waterfront

• Opening: from Thursday, September 24 to Sunday, September 27, from 11:00 to around 20:00
• Entry: free
• Team presentations: Thursday, September 24, around 18:00
• Activities: dock-out and dock-in show, big screens with live commentary, entertainment, merchandising, and refreshment points
• Traffic: via Francesco Caracciolo will be closed to traffic
• Where to follow the races: from the waterfront or from the sea areas reserved for private boats