American Team Riptide Racing has officially withdrawn from the 38th America’s Cup in Naples, bringing an abrupt end to what had briefly looked like a promising late challenge from the United States. The decision, confirmed on Wednesday (NZ time), came right on the final deadline for late entries — a timing that underlines just how close the team came to making the starting line.
Riptide Racing had only emerged in December as a potential replacement for American Magic, the U.S. syndicate that exited the competition last October after campaigns in Auckland (2021) and Barcelona (2024). Backed by the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in New York, the new team quickly gathered attention as a possible way to ensure continued American representation in sailing’s most historic event.
But despite early momentum, the challenge ultimately fell short.
“Although we achieved significant commitments from financial backers and partners, we ran out of time to line everything up for the 38th America’s Cup,” chief executive Chris Poole said in a statement. His words point to the reality of modern America’s Cup campaigns — where funding, logistics, design, and team structure must align perfectly under strict timelines.
The withdrawal is more than just a team stepping away. It raises a much bigger question: will the 38th America’s Cup proceed without a confirmed American challenger?
Every edition of the America’s Cup since its inception in 1851 has featured a U.S. team. The trophy itself remained in American hands for 132 years until Australia II’s historic win in 1983. That legacy makes the potential absence of a U.S. entry in Naples especially significant, both symbolically and competitively.
As things stand, five teams are already confirmed for the 38th edition. These include defending champions Team New Zealand, British team GB1, Italy’s Luna Rossa, Swiss outfit Alinghi, and the rebranded French syndicate La Roche-Posay. The event will mark the first America’s Cup hosted in Italy, with Naples set to take center stage in 2027.
There is still some uncertainty around the final lineup. The America’s Cup Partnership (ACP), a governance group established to share control between teams, confirmed that additional entries have been lodged and are currently under review.
“The America’s Cup Partnership can confirm that additional entries have been lodged for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples and the acceptance process is underway,” the ACP said in a statement. “In due course the full list of entries will be confirmed and published.”
However, one thing is already clear — Riptide Racing will not be among them.
The timing of the withdrawal adds another layer to the story. It came on the same day as the extended deadline for late entries, which had already been pushed back by two months to allow more teams to join. That extension had given hope that new challengers, including Riptide Racing, could still enter the race. Instead, it now highlights just how difficult it is to build a competitive America’s Cup campaign within limited time.
Beyond the immediate impact, the decision also reflects the growing complexity of the competition. The modern America’s Cup is no longer just about sailing skill — it is a high-performance, technology-driven contest that demands massive financial backing, advanced design capabilities, and long-term planning. Missing even one of these elements can derail an entire campaign.
There are still hints that more teams could join the grid. Reports suggest that a second Italian team and even an Australian bid have been explored, though nothing has been confirmed publicly. Until the ACP releases the final list, the possibility of new challengers — including a potential late American entry — cannot be completely ruled out.
Meanwhile, the focus for Riptide Racing has already shifted forward. Rather than viewing this as a failure, the team is positioning it as groundwork for the future. With just over a year before the 39th America’s Cup cycle begins, Poole emphasized that the goal now is to carry momentum into the next edition.
That forward-looking approach may offer some reassurance to supporters who were hoping for a fresh American challenge. Instead of disappearing entirely, the project could return stronger and better prepared in the next cycle.
For the competition itself, preparations continue at pace. The first racing of the 38th cycle begins next month with preliminary regattas in Cagliari, the home base of Luna Rossa. These early races will be held in AC40 boats and will include opportunities for teams to field youth and women’s crews in fleet racing events from May 21 to May 24.
The main event will follow in July 2027, when Team New Zealand — five-time winners of the Cup — will defend the trophy in Naples. The setting promises to be one of the most visually striking in recent history, with Italy hosting the event for the first time.
Even so, the absence of Riptide Racing leaves a noticeable gap in the narrative. The America’s Cup has always thrived on rivalries, national pride, and comeback stories. A missing American team would remove one of the competition’s most familiar and historically significant elements.
Fans can follow official updates and team announcements through the America’s Cup official website, where the final list of challengers is expected to be confirmed in the coming months.
For now, the headline remains simple but impactful: Riptide Racing is out, the deadline has passed, and the 38th America’s Cup moves forward with questions still hanging over the U.S. presence in one of sport’s oldest and most prestigious competitions.
You may also like: Auckland crash in Whangaparāoa leaves one dead in fatal car accident
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
