It will be the first America’s Cup — without America. Here comes the “we’re not in” from the U.S.

These are crucial hours for the America‘ s Cup, which by Oct. 31 will see the time window for new challengers to register close, and which is cashing in these hours on the NO of American Magic, which in a blunt announcement has declared that it will not take part in the America’s Cup in Naples. Barring anything new, for the first time in history the America’s Cup will not have a star-studded team at the start.

Formally, Alinghi, barring surprises in the coming hours, has also already announced its withdrawal. A scenario with Luna Rossa and Athena Racing, uncertain of French participation, as the only challengers is on the horizon. Unless Grant Dalton has rabbits to pull out of his hat, the America’s Cup in Naples was certainly not born under a good star.

In vain at this point were attempts at mediation between the parties, with the birth of America’s Cup Partnership, which evidently did not meet with the approval of all challengers.

American Magic’s statement

American Magic confirmed today that it will not participate in the 38th edition of the America’s Cup. The decision follows a thorough review of the event’s current Protocol and Partnership Agreement and their alignment with the team’s long-term sporting and strategic goals.

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What will be left of this America’s Cup in Naples?

“After extensive discussions with the Defender, Challenger of Record and other teams, we have concluded that the current structure does not provide American Magic with the framework necessary to run a highly competitive and financially sustainable campaign for the 38th America’s Cup,” said Doug DeVos, Team Principal of American Magic. “We care deeply about the America’s Cup and what it represents. However, for a team committed to long-term excellence, alignment between financial sustainability and competitive performance is essential. At the moment, we do not believe these conditions are in place to enable American Magic to compete.”

Although American Magic will not participate in the next America’s Cup, the team remains fully committed to its fundamental goal: to build a high-performance American sailing platform that will compete and win on the world stage.

The reasons for this decision, spelled out succinctly in Doug DeVos’ statement, remain vague, but it is not disclosed what demands were made on the defender and not met. The fact remains that with American Magic, the America’s Cup loses a credible player who, albeit with ups and downs in the last two campaigns, represented perhaps the most important club in Copp history, the New York Yacht Club. What’s more, barring anything new, for the first time in history the America’s Cup will not have a star-studded team at the start.

America’s Cup in Naples, is there an air of crisis?

Is the America’s Cup in crisis? Let’s say it is not in the best of health, although for an accurate diagnosis it will be convenient to wait until the October 31 deadline to see if there will be any surprises on the challenger front.

A 3-man America’s Cup, including the defender, and with Ben Ainslie’s Challenger of Record Athena Racing seemingly not enjoying great financial health, is certainly not the edition we dreamed of for Naples. Luna Rossa could benefit by taking advantage of the situation to try to replay the Trophy against New Zealand, but we are convinced that not even the Italian team can be enthusiastic about the climate around the event in these weeks.

In Naples meanwhile, work has begun in the Bagnoli area, the one that is to be reclaimed to host the teams’ bases. At least one preliminary event (with the AC40s) is expected in the Campania capital as early as 2026, and another before the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2027.

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