Set in the Gulf of Angels off Cagliari, the regatta marks the first competitive benchmark of the new Cup cycle, with points beginning to count after two days of practice racing. The fleet features top programs including Emirates Team New Zealand, Luna Rossa, GB1, Athena Pathway, and others, with additional entries from Team Australia Challenge and American Racing Challenger.
A key development in this edition is the dual-crew format, allowing teams to field both senior and Women’s & Youth line-ups simultaneously. Emirates Team New Zealand highlighted this approach, using the opportunity to integrate emerging sailors alongside its established Cup roster, reinforcing its long-term development pathway.
Across three days of intense fleet racing, up to eight boats will compete in high-speed AC40 competition before a final match-race showdown between the leading teams. While results will not count toward the 2027 America’s Cup itself, the event sets an early competitive tone for a cycle already defined by depth, speed, and evolving talent pathways.
With racing now officially underway, attention in Cagliari shifts firmly from preparation to performance on the water.
