Italy saves America’s Cup. It will be held in 2027 in Naples

We had to pinch ourselves to make sure it was true what we were reading because, while the clues were there, the rumors too, we didn’t believe it all the way. And finally came the official announcement: the America’s Cup 2027, the oldest sailing and sporting trophy in the world, will be held in 2027 in Naples, in the shadow of Vesuvius.

America’s Cup in Naples – The Official Communiqué

“The Government of Italy, in collaboration with Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, is pleased to announce Italy as the host country and Naples as the Host City for the 38th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup to be held in the spring and summer of 2027…The challenge for the 38th edition of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup will take place under the watchful shadow of Mount Vesuvius and within easy reach of the city’s vibrant waterfront. With a heritage of excellence and a rich history, Italy and Naples offer the 38th edition of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup an unparalleled experience that, in one way or another, will surely contribute to the myth, obsession, rivalry and innovation of the America’s Cup.” This is the summary of the press release released to the media.

Here’s why Naples saves the America’s Cup

Let’s face it: the America’s Cup was getting into a dead end. Between teams announcing (but then will it be true?) withdrawal, uncertainty about the racing formula, skepticism about Team New Zealand’s management of the event, in short, not a good situation for the most prestigious sailing trophy there is.

Then came the breakthrough move. Those who will remember the Louis Vuitton ACTs in Trapani and Naples (2005 and 2012) know what we are talking about: those were are preliminary events, yet none of the cities that have hosted the America’s Cup in subsequent years have responded in this way. Authentic crowd baths ashore, Race Committees struggling to turn away spectator boats on the water, and a reception unseen in perhaps any other America’s Cup host venue.

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Those of us who went to see the last edition in Barcelona found a distracted city, where the Old Pitcher was just one event among the city’s many attractions. This will not be the case in Naples; in the shadow of Vesuvius, the America’s Cup will be front and center, and we are willing to bet that the number of visitors and spectators following the event will break record after record.

And for the teams, even those that seem to have said enough like Ineos and Alinghi Red Bull Racing, everything changes. A Cup with a real crowd represents a completely different scenario than the anonymous (as cheering) editions in San Francisco, Bermuda, and we’ll even throw in Barcelona.

We can say it, Grant Dalton really got one right this time. Let’s pack up gentlemen, it’s off to Naples.

Mauro Giuffrè

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