ARC Team USA and US Sailing have launched a new partnership aimed at building a national fan network, linking yacht clubs and sailors across the United States with the team's America's Cup campaign.
The concept is simple: connect US Sailing's nationwide network of clubs and members more closely with the team, and give sailors around the country a genuine way to follow, understand and get behind the challenge.
It builds on ARC Team USA's existing relationship with Sail Newport, the team's home club and challenging club. Together with US Sailing, the three parties now share a common goal: rallying American sailing behind its Cup challenger.
At the heart of the initiative sits the new ARC Fan Network, which gives US Sailing-affiliated yacht clubs a formal, simple way to declare their support for the American challenger.
Participating clubs can expect regular updates on the team and race weekends, along with digital content and activation materials. Clubs will be able to choose from a range of options for how deeply their members engage.
There is an educational side to it too. ARC Team USA and US Sailing plan to produce content that brings the America's Cup into the clubhouse, covering topics such as foiling, race starts, weather, strategy and the roles of different crew members.
A series of virtual "Inside ARC" sessions will let US Sailing members and participating clubs hear directly from ARC Team USA sailors, coaches, designers and other members of the campaign. An "Ask ARC" feature will also let clubs and members submit questions for selected team members to answer.
The long-term ambition is a visible national community standing behind ARC Team USA and the pinnacle events of the sport, with yacht clubs across the country actively following and supporting the team throughout the campaign.
Ken Read, CEO of ARC Team USA, framed it as part of something bigger than results on the water. "This new era of the America's Cup offers an opportunity for sailor and fan inclusion like never before. Our ambition is not limited to what happens on the racecourse. From day one, we have made it clear that ARC Team USA will build something that people across American sailing can feel part of," he said.
Read pointed to the scale of what US Sailing brings to the campaign. "US Sailing has an extraordinary network of clubs, community sailing organisations, sailors and members across the country, and together we have an opportunity to bring those communities much closer to our America's Cup campaign. We want people to understand what we're doing, follow the racing, meet the people behind the team and feel like ARC Team USA is their team."
He added that building this community, and bringing it along on the journey to Naples, "will be incredibly powerful for our team and for the sport."
Charlie Enright, CEO of US Sailing, sees it as a chance to channel the pull of Cup racing into sailing communities nationwide. "America's Cup racing has an incredible ability to inspire sailors and bring people into our sport, and we want to make sure that excitement reaches sailing communities across the country," he said.
"This partnership with ARC Team USA gives US Sailing members and yacht clubs and community sailing organisations a meaningful way to follow the campaign, learn more about the people and technology behind it, and rally around an American team," Enright said. "We're excited to help bring the America's Cup into clubhouses from coast to coast and build a community that feels connected to the journey all the way to Naples."
