GB1, the Challenger of Record for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, formally took possession of its allocated plot at Bagnoli and set its construction crew to work building a new team base. The project is expected to continue through to autumn.
Bagnoli sits roughly six miles west of central Naples on a reclaimed former industrial site hugging the waterfront beneath the small volcanic island of Nisida. The precinct has been redeveloped to accommodate all seven competing teams in the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, along with permanent offices for America's Cup Events and a Race Village that will form the centrepiece of the Naples regatta in 2027.
GB1 CEO Ian Walker travelled to Bagnoli to sign the initial paperwork and get the build under way. The first of the team's trucks arrived loaded with the pre-packed base that had served as the squad's home away from home during the Barcelona campaign in 2024.
Looking out over the crystal waters in front of the team bases, Walker said: "It's only when you get here and see 14 knots of onshore sea-breeze and the most stunning scenery that you get a sense of just how awesome the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup is going to be. It's absolutely perfect, and now it's over to our build team to take the concept into reality."
Walker also spoke about the progress made at the site since his last visit. "I was here just six months' ago and what has been achieved has been impressive. As the Challenger of Record, we owe a huge debt of thanks to both Sport e Salute and to America's Cup Events (ACE) for getting the Bagnoli site to this point, and for us to be in a position to start construction. It's a significant milestone for us as a team, and for the event itself, but the clock is ticking as we get ready for sailing and developing the big boat - the AC75 - in the autumn, which is crucial."
As Challenger of Record and, famously, as winners of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2024, GB1 will occupy a plot directly alongside the Defenders, Emirates Team New Zealand. The remaining teams will be positioned to the east of the Defender and Challenger of Record in keeping with agreed protocols and entry order, with further arrivals expected in quick succession as additional base plots become available.
Walker had plenty to say about the location. "You start to really see the scale, and you start to imagine what the event's going to be like, not only in Bagnoli, but also in Naples and being here now in June, looking out over the waters, it's going to be stunning."
