#ac 38

American Magic (USA) today confirmed it will not compete in the 38th edition of the America’s Cup. The decision follows a comprehensive review of the event’s current Protocol and Partnership Agreement and their alignment with the team’s long-term sporting and strategic objectives.

“After extensive engagement with the Defender, Challenger of Record, and fellow teams, we’ve concluded that the present structure does not provide the framework for American Magic to operate a highly competitive and financially sustainable campaign for the 38th America’s Cup”, said Doug DeVos, Team Principal of American Magic.

Italian Antonio Spinelli is the driving force behind the Argo Challenge, a bold and ambitious campaign to assemble an international squad of disabled sailors to participate in both the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup competitions during AC38, with a stretch goal of competing in next year’s three scheduled AC40 preliminary regattas against the full America’s Cup teams.

Spinelli – a past ski instructor who works as a volunteer in an organisation that encourages people with disabilities to get involved in sport – led the first iteration of the Argo Challenge back in 2006 when he and Brazilian double Olympic bronze medallist Lars Grael put together a crew of able-bodied and disabled sailors with the goal of competing in the America’s Cup.

Although that campaign did not ultimately come to fruition – in some part because of the hiatus caused by the Oracle Team USA v Alinghi lawsuit – the team acquitted themselves well, and notably performed credibly in the Voiles de St Tropez and the Maxi World Championship in Sardinia.

1News can confirm Swiss syndicate Alinghi won't compete in the next regatta, with European sources saying the former Cup winners are not entering the 2027 event. 

Alinghi made a comeback to the America's Cup in Barcelona last year, after sitting out previous events for a 14-year stretch.

…

Aside from Alinghi's now tipped no-show in two years time, the total number of challengers for 2027 still remained unclear. 

Sir Ben Ainslie is predicted to front a new English team as lead challenger or "challenger of record". However, his campaign will no longer be funded by global petro-chemicals giant INEOS, following a falling out with billionaire owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. 

Ben Ainslie is close to a shock split with Sir Jim Ratcliffe only three months after their alliance led to a British boat contesting the America’s Cup for the first time in 60 years.

It is understood that relations between Ainslie, the four-times Olympic champion, and Ratcliffe, the Ineos chief executive and Manchester United co-owner, have deteriorated as plans for another campaign have been discussed.

Ratcliffe and Ineos have ploughed about £240million into the America’s Cup project, but both he and Ainslie made it clear they did not want Ineos to be the sole sponsor for the next attempt, which is likely to be in 2027.