Australia is to contest the next America’s Cup event, with a challenge from Sydney’s Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club.
The challenge means seven teams are set to take part in the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup taking place in Naples, Italy, the largest number of entries since the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia.
Team Australia is backed by John Winning and family who supported the Australian entries in the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024.
Tom Slingsby, Olympic gold medallist, multiple foiling champion and two-time World Sailor of the Year, will join the team as head of sailing.
Three-time Cup winner Glenn Ashby joins the team as head of performance and design.
Australian talent
Grant Simmer, a member of the winning Australia II campaign in 1983 that ended the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak, has been appointed as chief executive officer of Team Australia.
“For me, this campaign is both deeply personal and incredibly exciting,” he said.
“I first became involved in the America’s Cup in the early 1980s and was fortunate to be part of the legendary Australia II team that changed the course of the Cup forever.”
He continued: “Over the decades, Australian talent has spread across teams all over the world. Thanks to John Winning and this new challenge, we now have the opportunity to bring that talent back together to compete again for Australia.”
Significant evolution
The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup will mark a significant evolution for the event, with new AC75 rules requiring at least one female sailor to be included in each race crew for the first time in the competition’s history.
The shift to battery-powered systems will also place greater emphasis on skill, strategy and flight control.
“The evolution of the boats and the competition is opening the door to broader opportunities and visibility for women in elite sailing, while also creating clearer pathways for younger generations coming through the sport,” explained Team Australia Sailor, Tash Bryant.
“For young Australian sailors watching this campaign launch today, that representation and ambition matters greatly.”
Team Australia will also have a place on the America’s Cup Partnership (ACP) board.
