After a 37-year hiatus from the America's Cup scene, Canada made a proud return at the 2024 Youth and Women’s events in Barcelona under the Concord Pacific Racing banner. Now, with the next edition in Naples on the horizon, team CEO Mark MacLean says the AC40 Canada Racing Association is “full steam ahead” for a bigger, better campaign in 2027.
For MacLean, a lifelong America's Cup fan and former backer of Canada's 1984 and 1987 challenges, this is a deeply personal project. “It’s ridiculous that it took 37 years for Canada to come back,” he said. “This initiative is about inspiring young sailors, empowering women, and ensuring that gap never happens again.”
Backed by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, the organisation behind the youth and women’s teams – AC40 Canada Racing Association – is building on lessons learned in Barcelona to deliver a more refined and competitive campaign for Naples. That means more preparation time, expanded athlete pools, and a firmer grip on the logistical challenges that come with international competition.
“We’ve started early,” MacLean explained. “Last time, like many other teams, we were late to the party. This time, we’re hiring coaches, organising logistics, and building partnerships well in advance. Our goal is to be on the podium – and that means more time on the water in an AC40.”
From the outset, MacLean has been determined to position the Canadian programme as a truly national effort. The Association’s board includes representatives – mostly women – from Royal Yacht Clubs across the country.
“There’s always been an East-West tug of war in Canadian sailing,” MacLean noted. “But we’ve created buy-in from coast to coast, with outstanding sailors on the board—many of them past commodores or heads of racing. It’s helped us unite the country behind this effort.”
And that unification has extended to funding. The 2024 campaign attracted strong corporate backing, with Concord Pacific joined by RBC, TELUS, and other major Canadian brands.
“Canada had never had a corporately-sponsored sailing team before,” said MacLean. “But we showed what’s possible—and those sponsors were thrilled. They loved the opportunity to get close to the action in Barcelona, and they’ve seen the value. We’re already in discussions for renewed and expanded support.”
While the 2024 campaign was about proving Canada belonged on the international stage, the 2027 effort is about building an enduring legacy. The team plans to bring a larger squad to Naples—not just racing sailors, but support crew, tech and data specialists, and development athletes.
“Last time, we had eight sailors. That’s not enough. This time, we’ll bring more—some who may not race but will learn from the inside,” MacLean explained. “It’s about creating a pipeline—an ecosystem—for Olympic sailing, SailGP, big boat racing, and future America’s Cup campaigns.”
The poster child for this is Georgia Lewin-LaFrance. A helm on the 2024 women’s team and an alternate for the youth team, Georgia is a member of the Canadian NorthStar SailGP Team, while she and her sister Antonia are in the midst of a 49erFX Olympic campaign for Los Angeles 2028.
“She’s a perfect example of what we’re trying to build—an athlete who can move across all these disciplines,” said McLean.”
McLean told me foiling is still in its early stages in Canada, especially on the West Coast, where driftwood poses serious hazards. But that hasn’t stopped the Association from leading efforts to grow the sport.
“We’re doing America’s Cup camps across the country, bringing our [AC40] simulator and letting athletes get a feel for foiling—even if they’re not on the water,” MacLean said. “We’re also supporting programmes like We CAN Foil and exploring the idea of creating a dedicated foiling centre in British Columbia.”
And the team’s own AC40 simulator—brought to Barcelona for the 2024 campaign—will continue to play a key role in developing talent. “It was a €75,000 investment, but it paid off. Nothing beats time on the water, but this is the next best thing.”
If there’s one obstacle that remains from the last cycle, it’s access to the AC40 boats themselves. “That’s still the biggest challenge,” MacLean admitted. “All the boats are owned by America’s Cup teams, and I feel like even their own youth and women’s crews struggle to get time.”
To mitigate that, Concord Pacific Racing is developing relationships with national teams. In 2024, they chartered Team France’s AC40 and trained alongside their squad. Talks are now underway with the British team for similar arrangements.
They’re also hoping the proposed AC40 circuit gains traction before Naples. “If Luca [Rizzotti] gets it off the ground, we’ll absolutely write the cheque to be involved in the AC40 class. We need racing experience.”
While McLean says a full Canadian challenge for the senior America's Cup likely remains out of reach for now – “It would take a billionaire,” he laughs – the Youth and Women’s programme is nevertheless laying the foundation for something bigger.
“This isn’t just about Barcelona or Naples,” he said. “It’s about building a culture. Canada is a sailing nation – we’ve got the longest coastline in the world. We should never go 37 years without an America’s Cup presence again.”
With its national footprint, committed sponsors, and a clear pathway for athletes, the Canadian Youth and Women’s America’s Cup teams are proving that Canada’s future in high-performance sailing is more than just a dream – it’s a movement.
And come 2027, don’t be surprised if that movement delivers podium positions.
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