The sailing world can heave a collective sigh of relief as the long-awaited and much debated Protocol document for the 38th America’s Cup has been agreed and signed off by both the Defender, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club – represented by Emirates Team New Zealand – and the Challenger of Record, Britain’s Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd – represented by Athena Racing.
The announcement came mid-afternoon in New Zealand where Athena Racing CEO Sir Ben Ainslie and RYS Ltd. chairman Bertie Bickett met with Emirates Team New Zealand CEO and RNZYS commodore David Blakey to finally sign the Protocol doc that effectively opens up the 38th America’s Cup for business.
A key feature of the new Protocol is a unique partnership agreement aimed at creating a long-term commercial structure operated collectively by the competing teams – an element which has drawn unequivocal support from the New York Yacht Club commodore Jay Cross.
“As the founding Trustee of the America’s Cup, we are completely supportive of the move to modernise the oldest sporting trophy in the world,” Cross is quoted as saying in the announcement.
According to today’s announcement the new Protocol “introduces a groundbreaking partnership that establishes equal authority between all participating teams”. The America’s Cup Partnership (ACP) will be responsible for organising and managing the event’s on and off-water format and will oversee the development, protection and commercialisation of media and commercial rights.
“This is a seismic moment for the America’s Cup,” said Ainslie. “The partnership agreement fundamentally reshapes the governance and organisation of the event. The teams and yacht clubs share a vision to make the America’s Cup more inclusive, compelling, and financially sustainable. This new model marks a unified commitment to that vision. I am excited for the future of the sport.”
A key aspect of the ACP is to provide more certainty for teams, commercial partners, and event venues to invest for multiple editions of the America’s Cup – a factor that has always previously hobbled the chances of smooth continuity between events.
“As the three-time successive winner and Defender of the America’s Cup and along with the RNZYS as current Trustee, we feel the responsibility to continue to drive the growth of the America’s Cup event," said Dalton.
"Although the America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport and the pinnacle of sailing, its Achilles’ heel has always been its lack of continuity, so this transformation now gives all teams collective stewardship, and we are introducing a new executive management team to be headed up by a new independent CEO.
“By negotiating this Protocol and the America’s Cup Partnership with the Challenger of Record, it provides certainty for teams, commercial partners, and event venues to invest for multiple editions. This is the boldest change in 174 years of the Cup, while respecting the Deed of Gift, along with the Challenger of Record we are confident this is the best initiative to grow what is already one of the greatest sporting events in the world.”
The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup is set to take place in Naples, Italy in the spring and summer of 2027 with the 38th America’s Cup Match scheduled to take place in July.
Under the new Protocol all existing teams will use the same AC75 hulls that were raced in the 37th America’s Cup, if available. New teams will only be permitted to acquire an existing AC75 or build a new hull to the design of an AC37 hull. All hulls will be subject to the specific Constructed in Country requirements as outlined in the Protocol in accordance with the Deed of Gift.
The AC75s will be crewed by five sailors – at least one of whom must be female. The power-generating cyclors used in the last Cup have been replaced by battery power.
A guest spot will be made available to “VIPs, sponsors, media, influencers and dignitaries” who will “get to experience first-hand and report exactly what it is like to race on board the most technological boats in the world, going head-to-head in the heat of battle”.
A new nationality clause requires that two sailors plus the female sailor must be a national of the country of the competitor, but also allows for up to two non-nationals to sail on board as well.
Included in the new Protocol is a return of the highly popular Women’s and Youth America’s Cups first staged in Barcelona at AC37.
America’s Cup fans can expect more racing at AC38 than previously, with the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series group stage including both fleet and match racing.
A series of up to three Preliminary Regattas are intended for 2026 and one in early 2027 to be raced in the AC40s with teams entitled to race two AC40 yachts each at each event, with one AC40 to be crewed by women and youth sailors.
A final Preliminary Regatta will be raced in Naples in the AC75s immediately prior to the commencement of the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series.
For the first time in America’s Cup history the teams’ budgets will be capped at €75m.
Entries for the 38th America’s Cup will open on August 19th with the Italian syndicate Luna Rossa, France’s K Challenge, Switzerland’s Alinghi, and NYYC American Magic all expected to return to the fray after competing at AC37 in Barcelona last year.
