PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THE LOUIS VUITTON 38th AMERICA'S CUP PRELIMINARY REGATTA SARDINIA
Talk to any professional sailor, and almost all will recall sailing in Sardinia as a truly magical experience. The Mediterranean island is situated to the west of Italy, south of Corsica, and north of Tunisia, featuring mountainous terrain such as the Gennargentu range, and some of the finest sailing waters anywhere in the world.
Fans of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup will remember well the reconnaissance photographs and videos that came back from Luna Rossa’s extensive training programme from the capital of Sardinia, Cagliari. The Italian team, whose base is prominent in Cagliari, sitting on a dockside promontory of the Molo Ichnusa, trained hard ahead of Barcelona and the images captured were some of the most electrifying ever seen in the America’s Cup.
By mid-April 2024, Luna Rossa had launched and begun tow-testing their AC75 – the same one, albeit modified to the new official Technical Regulations, that they will sail in Naples in 2027. Throughout the month of May that year, the team enjoyed a wide-range of conditions from flat and calm to choppy and blustery with Mistrals blowing across the Bay of Angels and along the Poetto Beach.
For the teams of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup cycle, the first chance to register their intent and check in on the competition will be at the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup Preliminary Regatta Sardinia from the 21st – 24th May 2026, preceded by three days of training.
Sailing this first regatta of the new cycle in fully equalised AC40 yachts, the pocket-rocket little brothers and sisters to the mighty AC75s, the teams of four per boat (two helms, two trimmers, will complete up to eleven fleet races to decide the final two who will face off in a match-race to crown the winner. Everyone wants to do well, and with most of the syndicates fielding second AC40s crewed by members of their Youth & Women’s teams, competition will be intense.
Shoreside, spectators are in for a treat as the Region of Sardinia welcomes the world to this beautiful and unique part of Italy’s second biggest island. Visitors will be able to take in the dedicated free-to-enter Race Village where the main stage will be housed for sailor presentations alongside a full entertainment programme. Right in front of the main stage, on a daily basis both before and after racing at least one AC40 will be docked alongside for fans to admire whilst within the Race Village there will be plenty of food and beverage concessions as well as the official merchandise store.
For those wishing to stay within the Race Village, large screens will show every second of the racing but for those that wish to see the racing live, the FanZone Lazzaretto will have a direct vantage point out to the two possible racecourse areas. These designated zones are approximately two kilometres in diameter and close to the shoreline, depending on the wind direction.
Also along the FanZone Lazzareto, sailing activities managed by the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV), include Alessandra Sensini's Foil Academy and the Parasail Academy For Sailing With Disabilities. It is anticipated that the majority of the local sailing clubs will also be involved whilst also along the FanZone there will be large screens and food and beverage options. Both the race Village and the FanZone are expected to open from 11:00 on race days, and close by 19:00 local time.
The Region of Sardinia is ready. The Road to Naples and the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup officially starts on the 21st through to the 24th May 2026.
Be there!
Magnus Wheatley
