2027 America's Cup

The 2027 America's Cup is the 38th staging of the America's Cup yacht race. It is the oldest continuous competition in international sport, and among the world's most prestigious sporting trophies. The 38th America's Cup will be raced in a match-race series between a yacht sailed by Emirates Team New Zealand representing the defender Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and a yacht representing the challenging yacht club. The challenging yacht club will either be the one which is first to issue a valid challenge to the defending club under the Deed of Gift of the America's Cup and becomes a sole challenger, or the one which wins a Challenger Series organised by the first valid challenger, which is called 'the Challenger of Record'. The Royal Yacht Squadron is the Challenger of Record for a second consecutive America's Cup.
The America's Cup is a highly prestigious event, being the oldest continuous competition in international sport, and the fourth oldest continuous sporting trophy of any kind. As of 19 October 2024, a total of 37 cup matches have been held. With 25 victories, the New York Yacht Club has won the most titles.
The 37th match from 12 to 19 October 2024 was the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's eighth America's Cup match and their fifth America's Cup victory, winning in 1995, 2000, 2017, 2021 and 2024 (losing in 2003, 2007 and 2013) – making it the second most successful club in the competition's history. RNZYS has appeared in every America's Cup match since their first appearance in 1995 (apart from 2010).
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is again the defender of the America's Cup after its yacht Taihoro, owned and sailed by the Emirates Team New Zealand syndicate, was the successful defender in the 37th America's Cup, beating the challenger Ineos Team UK, representing the Royal Yacht Squadron, 7–2 in a first-to-seven series raced from 12 to 19 October 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
Soon after Taihoro achieved its seventh win in the 37th America's Cup, ETNZ chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge confirmed that a challenge had been accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Ineos Team UK Britannia skipper and team boss Ben Ainslie later confirmed that the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes had indeed challenged the 38th America's Cup and their Challenge had been accepted. Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd. is now the Challenger of Record for a second consecutive America's Cup.
Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron agreed in the challenge after the 36th America's Cup that the AC75 foiling monohull class developed would be used for the 2024 America's Cup, they also want the AC75 class to be used for the 38th America's Cup, perhaps with a slightly modified rule involving less automation in exchange for more sailors doing sailing roles, possibly making space for a crew role reserved for female or youth sailors.
On 8 November 2024, RNZYS and RYS released a statement that: the AC75 class will be retained however the next Cup will not be until 2027 and the rule is launching a restriction on the sailing of AC75 yachts for 12 months – along with a cap on sailing days of AC75s. It is not yet certain how this would work for new teams who need sailing time in existing AC75s. Development of LEQ12s is also prohibited however, development can take place on AC40s which remains "in class". The defender and challenger of record are investigating the possibility of imposing cost and carbon "caps".
In the statement released 8 November, there were no real changes to nationality rules.
Speculation has centred around Jeddah in Saudi Arabia or Valencia in Spain or Auckland, which hosted three times in total, 30th, 31st and 37th editions respectively. Notion of returning to Barcelona was once conjectured, but was ultimately rejected by both Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton and council of the Catalan capital. Dalton mentioned the difficulties for further expansion of participating teams under available infrastructure within the city port. City council was satisfied enough with the unique event in 37th edition due to enormous economical and promotional impacts. It was later reported that the Port of Barcelona recorded a financial loss of €3.5 million having spent €4.5 million between 2022 and 2024.
Of the previous 37 cup matches, 33 have been held in the defender's home waters. The Deed of Gift provides for the defender to name the venue if they and the Challenger of Record cannot reach agreement. The venue is to be announced by the Defender within eight months of the final race of the AC37 Match (20 June 2025) and a Protocol should also be published as soon as practicable within that period and a protocol will follow.
Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton planned to make the competition more commercially viable, indicating that he favoured 2026, one year earlier than expected for quick turnaround and use of the hard assets that the six current teams in possession: AC40, AC75, hydrogen chase boats, simulators and gym equipment. Meanwhile it will be more beneficial to retain the respective sailing talents.
The Deed of Gift requires the match to be held in summer or summer-shoulder months. In the southern hemisphere, this is defined as between 1 November and 30 April. In the northern hemisphere, it is defined as between 1 May and 31 October.
It is intended that the AC38 Match be held within three years of the completion of the AC37 Match subject to any adjustments needed for the hemisphere in which it is to be sailed.
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the Challenger of Record for the 38th America's Cup. Their team, INEOS Britannia, previously lost to Emirates Team New Zealand 7–2 in the 2024 match, beating Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the 2024 Louis Vuitton Cup final by 7–4.
After a split in January 2025 between Ben Ainslie and Ineos Team UK the challenge for the 38th America's Cup is yet to be announced In a statement released Ainslie said his challenge will be known as Athena Racing going forward, aligning with the British Women's and Youth America's Cup team. RYS updated their website confirming that "Athena Racing represents Royal Yacht Squadron – the British entry for the 38th America's Cup led by Sir Ben Ainslie."
The statement dated 8 November seemed to convey an interest in increasing the number of preliminary regattas aiming to provide more regular racing during the AC38 cycle with a mixture of AC40 & AC75 racing, in both fleet and match racing formats.
AC38 will be a multi-challenger event and having lodged the first challenge the Royal Yacht Squadron has been appointed the role of Challenger of Record.
The America's Cup match will be a best of 13 race series to be held between the Emirates Team New Zealand syndicate representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and the winner of the qualifying event.
According to the 8 November statement both RNZYS and RYS are committed to building on the success of the AC37 Women's and Youth America's Cup events.