Emirates Team New Zealand Announces 38th America’s Cup Venue and Team Changes

Emirates Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, together with the government of Italy, have announced Italy as the Host Country and Naples as the Host City for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, to be held in spring and summer 2027. The announcement was made Wednesday on the America’s Cup website.

“I couldn’t be more excited to announce Naples, Italy, as the Host Venue of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup. There is a raw spirit and absolute pride in Italy that seems so appropriate to have the next America’s Cup here,” Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton said in the press release. Naples hosted two America’s Cup World Series events in the lead-up to the 34th America’s Cup in 2012 and 2013, which local event officials estimate attracted more than one million people to watch the racing from the Naples waterfront during the weeklong event.

In the same week, Team New Zealand has announced its new AC crew lineup, with Australia’s Nathan Outteridge promoted to skipper. The role was made vacant when Olympic gold and silver medalist Peter Burling and Outteridge and team management were unable to reach an agreement in discussions that began after Barcelona.

Outteridge, also an Olympic gold and silver medalist, held the role of the New Zealand port helmsman during the America’s Cup in Barcelona, Spain, last year. Outteridge is likely to move into the starboard helmsman position, with Sam Meech and British Olympic medalist Chris Draper as probable candidates for the port helm role. The move of recruiting a non-national to the team suggests the Kiwis may be relaxing the strict nationality rules they put in place after winning the Cup in Bermuda in 2017.

At this point New Zealand’s core team consists of Nathan Outteridge (skipper), Andy Maloney, Blair Tuke, Sam Meech, and Chris Draper, with more announcements to be made. And with the team placings in the throes of being finalized, Team New Zealand’s efforts will go toward defending the America’s Cup for the third consecutive time.

To our knowledge, Peter Burling is continuing his role as CEO and driver for SailGP Team New Zealand.