Naples officially enters the atmosphere of the 38th America’s Cup. From September 24 to 27, 2026, the Gulf hosted the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta, the second stage of the “Road to Naples 2027” journey, offering the public a first taste of the spectacle that will accompany the city toward next year’s main event.

The protagonists of the races were the AC40s, high-speed foiling monohulls capable of exceeding 40 knots. These identical vessels for all teams are designed to highlight crew skill, strategy, and racing tactics. The program included eight fleet races, followed by a match race final between the top two boats in the standings.

The Preliminary Regatta does not award points toward the 2027 America’s Cup, but it represents a significant testing ground. For the crews, it was an opportunity to face opponents directly, refine maneuvers, and gather valuable insights ahead of the main competition.

The spectacle was not limited to the sea. A Race Village was set up at Rotonda Diaz, featuring free admission, giant screens to follow the regattas, crew presentations, entertainment, and dock-out and dock-in sessions before and after the races.

The September regattas thus represent one of the most important milestones leading up to the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, which in 2027 will bring the oldest international sporting trophy to Naples, once again transforming the Gulf into one of the world’s great sailing venues.