America's Cup Naples 2027: the history of the America's Cup until its arrival in Italy

It was born in 1851, when an American schooner managed to surprise the British fleet in the waters of the Isle of Wight. Since then, the America's Cup has endured wars, technological revolutions, legendary challenges, and radical changes in the interpretation of sailing. After 176 years, the America's Cup voyage comes to Italy for the first time: in 2027, Naples will host the competition.

The countdown has already begun. The city of Naples will not only be the setting for the 38th Louis Vuitton America's Cup: in September 2026, it will also host one of the stops on the Road to Naples, the Preliminary Regatta scheduled for September 24-27 in the Bay of Naples.

But to understand why the arrival of the America's Cup in Naples represents a historic turning point, we need to go back more than a century and a half.

America's Cup, it all began in 1851

The history of the America's Cup begins on August 22, 1851.

At Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, fifteen yachts lined up for a race of approximately 55 miles around the island. Among the vessels was the American schooner America , belonging to a group of American sailors.

The boat from the United States managed to beat the British fleet and won the RYS £100 Challenge Cup.

The Cup then crossed the Atlantic and arrived in the United States. In 1857, the owners of the schooner America donated the trophy to the New York Yacht Club through the famous Deed of Gift, laying the foundation for what would become the America's Cup.

The name of the competition derives from the winning boat of that historic regatta.

American rule lasts 132 years

For more than a century the trophy remained in the United States.

The New York Yacht Club defended the Cup for 132 years, transforming the America's Cup into a competition characterized by the challenge between the defender, that is, the holder of the trophy, and the challenger, the challenger who tries to conquer it.

Between 1870 and 1920, New York hosted thirteen defenses of the America's Cup. The main racing venue subsequently moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where the competition remained until the historic 1983 edition.

The 1983 season was one of the most important turning points in the history of the America's Cup.

After 132 years of dominance, the New York Yacht Club lost the trophy to Australia II, ending one of the longest winning streaks in international sporting history.

Australia, the United States, and New Zealand change history

The America's Cup thus entered its modern era.

In 1987, the competition was held in Fremantle, Australia, but the Australian defender failed to retain the trophy. Dennis Conner brought the Cup back to the United States with the Stars & Stripes, beating Kookaburra III.

The next big breakthrough came in 1995.

In San Diego, New Zealand won the America's Cup for the first time. Team New Zealand, led by Russell Coutts and featuring Sir Peter Blake, brought the trophy to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

From that moment on, New Zealand would become one of the great powers in the history of the competition.

The America's Cup comes to New Zealand

In 2000 the trophy landed in Auckland.

For the first time, the America's Cup was defended outside the United States. Team New Zealand managed to retain the Cup by defeating Luna Rossa 5-0.

Three years later, however, a new revolution arrived.

In 2003, the challenge was won by Alinghi, the Swiss team led by Ernesto Bertarelli. Switzerland thus became the first European nation to win the America's Cup since the competition's inception.

The Cup would then pass through Valencia, San Francisco, Bermuda and Auckland again, following the alternation between defender and challenger that has always characterised the competition.

Luna Rossa and the Italian history of the America's Cup

Along this path, Italy has built a unique history.

Luna Rossa was founded in 1997 in Punta Ala and made its America's Cup debut in the 2000 edition in Auckland. Its first campaign was immediately memorable: the Italian team won the Challenger Selection Series and earned the right to face Team New Zealand in the Cup Match.

The match ended 5-0 for the New Zealanders, but Luna Rossa's experience marked the beginning of an Italian presence destined to last over time.

In 2003 Luna Rossa became Challenger of Record, while in 2007, in Valencia, it once again reached the final of the challenger selections.

In 2013, the Italian team participated in the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco, an edition that also represented a fundamental technological step for the competition: it was the era of large catamarans equipped with foils, capable of rising from the water and reaching speeds that until then had been unthinkable for a sailing competition of this level.

In 2021 Luna Rossa returned to the Auckland Match after winning the Prada Cup, but Team New Zealand won the trophy again.

In 2024, in Barcelona, ​​the Italian team played the final of the Challenger Selection Series for the fifth time.

From monohulls to "flying" boats: how the Cup has changed

The history of the America's Cup is not just a succession of winners and defeats.

It is also the story of the technological evolution of sailing.

Over the decades, the boat classes have changed: from the large J-Class to the 12-meter, then to the America's Cup Class and subsequently to catamarans and modern foiling monohulls.

The 2021 edition marked another turning point with the introduction of the AC75, monohulls equipped with lateral foils capable of lifting the hull out of the water.

The 38th America's Cup will continue along this path: the teams will once again race with AC75s, while the AC40s will be used for the Preliminary Races, the Youth America's Cup and the Women's America's Cup. The AC75s will be crewed by five sailors and the boat systems will be battery-powered.

Barcelona 2024, then Naples' choice

The last edition of the America's Cup was held in 2024 in Barcelona.

Emirates Team New Zealand successfully defended the trophy against INEOS Britannia, capturing the Cup for the third consecutive time.

After the New Zealand victory, the process that would lead to the choice of the new venue began.

On May 15, 2025, the official announcement came: Italy would host the 38th Louis Vuitton America's Cup and Naples would be the host city.

This is an unprecedented step. For the first time in the competition's history, both the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup Match will be held in Italy.

Why Naples is not new to the America's Cup

The relationship between Naples and the America's Cup, however, did not begin in 2027.

The city had already hosted the America's Cup World Series in 2012 and 2013, bringing the competition's boats and crews to the Gulf for the first time.

That very experience was also recalled by Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, in the process that led to the choice of Naples as the venue for the 38th edition.

In 2027, however, the level will be completely different: Naples will in fact host the entire decisive phase of the competition.

America's Cup Naples 2027: What the Competition Will Look Like

The 38th America's Cup program will take place between spring and summer 2027.

Before the actual Match there will be the Louis Vuitton Cup, that is the Challenger Selection Series which will determine which of the challengers will win the right to face the defender, Emirates Team New Zealand.

The America's Cup Match will begin on July 10, 2027 in the waters of Naples.

The race course will therefore be the Gulf of Naples, with the Neapolitan seafront as a privileged observation point for the public.

The teams' logistical and operational base will be set up in the Bagnoli area. The project also fits the event into the broader urban regeneration process of the western part of the city.

Naples is already on the Road to Naples

However, 2027 is not the only date.

Naples is already experiencing its own America's Cup.

From September 24 to 27, 2026 , the city will host the second Preliminary Regatta of the 38th edition in the Bay of Naples. The races are held aboard AC40s, foiling monohulls smaller than the AC75s, capable of exceeding 40 knots.

The event does not award points towards the main competition in 2027, but it represents an important stage in the teams' preparation journey.

The program includes eight fleet races and a match race final between the top two boats. The Race Village has been set up at the Rotonda Diaz, with free access to the public.

It is, in fact, the first taste of the America's Cup that Naples will experience in 2027.

Luna Rossa returns home

The Italian presence makes the Neapolitan event even more special.

Luna Rossa will participate in the 38th America's Cup representing Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia. This will be the team's seventh challenge in the history of the Cup.

More than 25 years have passed since its first participation in 2000 and in the meantime Luna Rossa has become a constant presence at the top of the competition.

In 2027, however, the scenario will be unprecedented: for the first time, the Italian team will compete in the America's Cup in its own waters.

From the schooner America to the Gulf of Naples

The history of the America's Cup began with a race around the Isle of Wight, when the schooner America challenged and beat the best British boats.

Since then, the trophy has spanned continents and generations: it remained in the hands of the New York Yacht Club for 132 years, passed to Australia, returned to the United States, was conquered by New Zealand and Switzerland, and has accompanied some of the most important technological revolutions in sailing.

In the meantime, Italy has also built its own history, especially through Luna Rossa.

Now the journey arrives in Naples.

In September 2026, the city will host the first major test of the Road to Naples . In the summer of 2027, the Gulf will become the site of the America's Cup Match for the first time in history.

From the 55 miles covered in 1851 around the Isle of Wight to the AC75 regattas off the Neapolitan seafront: 176 years after the birth of the America's Cup, history arrives in Naples.