Seven challengers will line up for the 38th America's Cup in Naples, making it the most heavily contested edition since Valencia in 2007. That milestone was confirmed when the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron accepted the challenge lodged by the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, the sixth entry received in strict order of submission.
The Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club will be represented by Team Australia, a campaign backed by John Winning and his family, who so fantastically supported the Australian entries in the Youth and Women's America's Cup in Barcelona in 2024.
The team also unveiled a leadership group of considerable pedigree. Tom Slingsby, an Olympic gold medallist, multiple foiling champion and two-time World Sailor of the Year, has been appointed Head of Sailing. Joining him as Head of Performance and Design is Glenn Ashby, a three-time Cup winner.
Grant Simmer, a name synonymous with the competition's most celebrated moments, takes on the position of Chief Executive Officer. Simmer was part of the Australia II campaign in 1983, the effort that ended the New York Yacht Club's 132-year winning streak.
Simmer spoke about what the campaign means to him personally. "For me, this campaign is both deeply personal and incredibly exciting. I first became involved in the America's Cup in the early 1980s and was fortunate to be part of the legendary Australia II team that changed the course of the Cup forever. Since then, I've been involved in every America's Cup edition, including Australia's successful hosting of the event in Fremantle, still regarded as one of the greatest Cups in history. Over the decades, Australian talent has spread across teams all over the world. Thanks to John Winning and this new challenge, we now have the opportunity to bring that talent back together to compete again for Australia. What excites me most is helping build the next generation of Australian America's Cup sailors, designers and engineers, while creating a long-term foundation for Australia in the modern era of the Cup."
Head of Sailing Tom Slingsby described the opportunity as the realisation of a long-held ambition. "The opportunity to represent Australia in the America's Cup with an Australian team is something that genuinely means a lot to me. It's been a dream throughout my career to be part of bringing Australia back to the Cup in a meaningful way. To now have that opportunity alongside Herman Winning, a close friend of more than 30 years makes it even more special. There's a huge sense of excitement around what we're building together, and I'm incredibly proud to be part of the beginning of this new chapter for Australian sailing."
Glenn Ashby, who is also a confirmed inductee into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in October, reflected on what the moment means for Australian sailing. "For more than half my sailing career I have had a dream to see an Australian team return to the pinnacle event of our sport of sailing - The America's Cup. As Aussies we love our sport, and the connectivity and camaraderie it brings. It is extremely humbling and a huge honour to help create and be part of a new and significant chapter in Australian sport, whilst honouring and respecting the legacy of those who have come before us. Team Australia aims to build on this legacy, combining expert Australian experience and knowledge with new talent to build into the future across multiple departments. This new team will leverage modern engineering and design tools, simulation and performance optimization to ensure we hit the ground running in Naples, Italy, early next year. This entry to sailing's biggest stage was only possible with the desire, courage and belief of John Winning and family who have enabled the dream of so many, to become a reality."
The 38th America's Cup will introduce meaningful changes to how the competition is run. Updated AC75 rules will require each race crew to include at least one female sailor, a first in the event's long history. The switch to battery-powered systems is expected to shift the competitive balance further towards skill, strategy and flight control. The changes are also designed to strengthen pathways between the Youth and Women's America's Cup programmes and senior competition.
Team Australia sailor Tash Bryant welcomed the new direction. "This feels like an exciting new era for the America's Cup. The evolution of the boats and the competition is opening the door to broader opportunities and visibility for women in elite sailing, while also creating clearer pathways for younger generations coming through the sport. For young Australian sailors watching this campaign launch today, that representation and ambition matters greatly."
Team Australia will also take up a position on the America's Cup Partnership board. ACP Chairman Grant Dalton, who also serves as CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, offered a warm welcome to the new entry. "History tells us that antipodean sailing has a habit of turning out the very best in the America's Cup, and I'm delighted both as Chairman of ACP and as CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, to welcome Australia back to the America's Cup. We know they will be fierce competitors, and we certainly know all about the deep sailing talent in Australia, plus we know that they have some extremely fast Women & Youth sailors coming through the ranks. We wish them all well and look forward to facing them on the starting line in Naples in the summer of 2027."
ACP Chief Executive Officer Marzio Perrelli was equally enthusiastic. "Officially our sixth challenger for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, Team Australia representing the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, have assembled an incredibly talented sporting group from the outset with deep experience and I look forward to working with the Team and welcoming them to the Board of the America's Cup Partnership. Having Australia back in the America's Cup is something to be celebrated and something that the whole of Australia can get behind."
About the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club
The Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club was founded on 4th August 1922 by a group of dedicated yachtsmen wishing to establish a private yacht club closer to their homes in Point Piper, on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour in Australia.
The club began life as The New Yacht Club, before being renamed the Southern Yacht Club and eventually The Prince Edward Yacht Club, an honour extended in recognition of the official visit to Sydney by His Royal Highness Edward, Prince of Wales, who would later become King Edward VIII. Edward arrived in Australia aboard the battlecruiser HMS Renown to great fanfare in May 1920. The club marked its Centenary in 2022 with formal events for members and a sailing regatta that brought together all the yacht clubs on Sydney Harbour.
