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The 38th America’s Cup is heading to Naples, where AC75 foiling yachts will race in the shadow of Mt Vesuvius from July 10, 2027. It will be the first time the oldest trophy in international sport has been contested in Italian waters.
The Cup comes to the Gulf of Naples
AC75 foiling yachts start racing here on July 10, 2027. It is the first time the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, has been contested in Italian waters.
Racing in the volcano’s shadow
Vesuvius rises 1,281 metres on the eastern shore of the gulf, about 15 km from Castel dell’Ovo in a straight line. It last erupted in March 1944.
Between Castel dell’Ovo and Posillipo
The course will sit in the water between the castle and the Posillipo headland. Its exact boundaries have not been published, so the shaded area is an approximation.
Close enough to watch from the shore
The course is set near enough to land for spectators to follow the racing from the seafront. The Race Village, the main fan hub downtown, will be on the Viale Francesco Caracciolo, the road that runs along this shore.
The teams set up west of the headland
Team bases and technical facilities are being built in Bagnoli, a former industrial quarter on the far side of Posillipo, about 7 km west of Castel dell’Ovo. A steel mill stood here for much of the 20th century. The quarter is now undergoing a major regeneration programme.
One gulf, three stages
Bases in Bagnoli, racing off Posillipo, fans on the Caracciolo seafront.
- Racecourse, approximate
- Race Village road
- Team bases, Bagnoli
Sources: article text; coastline, streets and landmark positions from OpenStreetMap (Overpass, Nominatim); terrain from Mapzen Terrain Tiles on AWS; Vesuvius height and last eruption, and Bagnoli’s steel mill history, from Wikipedia. Distances are straight-line between OpenStreetMap coordinates. The racecourse area is approximate: the exact course has not been published.
Five teams have been confirmed as founding members of the newly created America’s Cup Partnership (ACP), which was unveiled at a ceremony at the Palazzo Reale in Naples in January. Defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand will face four challengers: Italy’s Luna Rossa, Switzerland’s Tudor Team Alinghi, France’s K-Challenge, and GB1, the rebranded British entry.
The racecourse will sit in the Gulf of Naples between Castel dell’Ovo and Posillipo, positioned close enough to shore for spectators to watch from the waterfront. A Race Village on the Viale Francesco Caracciolo will serve as the main fan hub downtown, while team bases and technical facilities are being built in Bagnoli, a former industrial quarter on Naples’ western coast that is undergoing a major regeneration programme.
Road to Naples
The first preliminary regatta is scheduled for May 21–24, 2026, in Cagliari, Sardinia, giving teams an early competitive outing before the main event.
Among the challengers, Luna Rossa has undergone a leadership shift. Giulio Bertelli, a 15-year professional sailor who raced in The Ocean Race 2022–23, has been appointed vice president. His father Patrizio Bertelli remains president and founder. “Even without my father, we will continue with the team,” Giulio Bertelli said, confirming Luna Rossa’s long-term commitment.
Louis Vuitton returns as title sponsor for both the Challenger Selection Series and the Match itself.
The Match is scheduled to conclude around July 17–18, 2027, though that timeline depends on wind conditions in the gulf.