America’s Cup 38: entries closed, five teams confirmed, two new challenges expected

The deadline for submitting entries to the 38th America’s Cup expired on March 31, 2026. An official statement from the organizing body, the America’s Cup Partnership, was expected, particularly as it is positioning itself as the governance structure for future editions, raising some questions about the legitimacy of this role.

At present, however, no official communication has been issued regarding the final number of participants or their identities.

The only confirmed figure remains unchanged: five teams entered. These include the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, the Challenger of Record Athena Racing (GB1), and the challengers Luna Rossa, Alinghi and the French K-Challenge, now competing under the sponsor name La Roche-Posay Racing Team.

No official announcement, but ongoing contacts

Contacted by Reuters, ACP confirmed that it is in discussions with additional potential challengers, without providing further details. This was followed by a brief note confirming that entries have been received, with names to be disclosed at a later stage.

Hypotheses on new entries

According to PressMare sources, one additional challenger has secured entry—likely not yet formally confirmed—while a second appears highly probable. This may explain ACP’s current silence: while the deadline could not be further extended, some flexibility appears to remain due to practical timing constraints.

A US-based initiative linked to Czech entrepreneur Karel Komárek is considered likely, although the key issue remains the yacht club that would officially lodge the challenge. As reported by Fabio Pozzo in La Stampa, the New York Yacht Club may not be available, with the possibility of a different US club stepping forward.

Another potential challenger is expected to be Australian, involving high-profile figures such as Glenn Ashby and Tom Slingsby. While financial backing remains unclear, the primary challenge appears to be securing an AC75 yacht.

 This represents a significant technical constraint: under the 38th America’s Cup Protocol, teams must reuse an existing AC75, updated to the new rules, with the possibility of developing new foils. New teams may build a yacht based on an existing design package, but timelines are extremely tight. The most competitive option would likely be acquiring the package from American Magic, which the two teams mentioned are believed to be targeting.

A third team potentially in need of a yacht is GB1. Ownership and use of the AC75 Britannia is currently subject to a legal dispute between former sponsor Ineos and Athena Racing, which manages the British team. Should the Challenger of Record be left without a yacht, an alternative could be Te Rehutai, the AC75 used by Team New Zealand to win the 36th Cup in Auckland against Luna Rossa. However, that same yacht could also be of interest to the Australian team.

With the road to Naples 2027 already underway, attention now turns to the expected official communication clarifying the final lineup and the schedule following the Preliminary Regattas in Cagliari, set for May 21–24.

A final note concerns governance: ACP appears unconcerned by a legal challenge filed in the New York court by America’s Cup veteran John Sweeney, who is contesting the current governance structure. As reported by Il Sole 24 Ore, the case may be dismissed, but if it proceeds, legal scrutiny could increase around whether the mutual agreement among teams complies with the Deed of Gift.

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