The 38th America's Cup has no confirmed United States entry, and the late-entry deadline at the end of January 2026 is drawing close.
The situation became clear in late October 2025, when NYYC American Magic announced it would not compete in the 2027 event in Naples. The team said the current Protocol and Partnership Agreement did not support a sustainable campaign. No alternative American challenger stepped forward at that point.
In January 2026, American Magic opened its new High Performance Center on Pensacola Bay, a USD $20.8 million facility covering 56,000 square feet. The centre includes direct water access, composite and engineering space, and accommodation for racing yachts. Under an agreement running to 2031, the site has been designated as SailGP's North American training base.
American Magic has made no announcement regarding the sale or lease of its America's Cup racing assets. Its first AC75, Defiant, was retired following the 36th America's Cup. The team's second AC75, Patriot, was upgraded ahead of the 37th Cup and remains in the team's possession despite the withdrawal from the 38th.
The AC38 Protocol requires competing teams to race with existing AC75 hulls and legacy components. New entrants can either purchase an existing boat or commission a hull built to an AC37 design, which keeps the pool of available platforms limited from the outset.
Riptide Racing has declared its intention to fill that gap. Based in Oyster Bay, New York, the team plans to challenge under the burgee of Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, with match racing skipper Chris Poole leading the programme. The team is working toward the 31 January 2026 late-entry deadline.
Riptide has outlined a campaign budget of up to USD $50 million, with approximately USD $30 million needed to secure entry. Commercial partnerships are beginning to take shape. Harken has been confirmed as hardware supplier, alongside logistics partner Pindar by Manuport. No AC75 platform has yet been identified by the team, and suitable hulls are scarce.
With the deadline approaching and no boat secured, the question of whether the United States will have a presence on the start line in Naples remains open. The America's Cup carries the name it does for a reason, and an event without an American team on the water would be a notable absence.
