VOLUNTEERING FOR THE LOUIS VUITTON 38th AMERICA’S CUP REGATTAS IN NAPLES AND SARDINIA – A TRULY AMAZING AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE
There is nothing quite like the buzz of an America’s Cup regatta: technically cutting-edge boats, world-class and colourful sailing teams, with a waterfront and Race Village alive with an energy that you just want to bottle. It’s electric, it’s vibrant and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Volunteering puts you right in the middle of it, not as a spectator, but as part of the team that ensures that the events run smoothly. In Naples and Sardinia, that experience comes with the added bonus of two iconic Italian coastal cities, each with its own character, culture, and yachting heritage.
YOU ARE A PART OF SOMETHING WORLD-CLASS
The America’s Cup is the most prestigious event in sailing, with global media attention and truly international top-level competition. Volunteers help make it all possible by supporting operations, welcoming visitors, assisting teams and regatta officials, and keeping the official Race Village running smoothly. It is genuinely satisfying to finish a day knowing that your hard work and endeavour contributed to a smooth, professional event.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS YOU WILL NEVER FORGET
Volunteering often means you are closer to the action than most people ever get. Depending on your role, you might see how race days are coordinated, how teams move equipment, how the onshore and on-water schedules sync up, and how small details such as signage, timing, transport and credentials all make a huge difference. Even when your task seems simple, you will quickly realise that you are a part of a much bigger machine – the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup!
REAL SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN TAKE ANYWHERE
America’s Cup regattas are fast-paced, public-facing, and detail-driven which is exactly the kind of environment that helps you grow as a person. You will build experience that looks amazing on a CV and feels even better in real life, such as: communication and customer service with an international audience, teamwork under time pressure, problem-solving and adaptability when plans change, event operations and logistics, as well as huge confidence working with officials, partners, sponsors and professional teams.
YOU MEET BRILLIANT PEOPLE AND MAKE FRIENDS FOR LIFE
One of the best parts of volunteering is the people. You will be working alongside volunteers from different backgrounds that may include students, America’s Cup enthusiasts, event professionals, locals, international volunteers and visitors who all show up with the same goal. The shared pace of regatta time in the America’s Cup creates instant camaraderie, and it is common to leave with new friends, new contacts, and a stronger connection to the sailing community.
Example from the Volunteer Team of 2024: César Clemente, was an international aid worker based between Madrid and Murcia, who when he was three years old had an uncle from New York who brought him a souvenir from the New York Yacht Club. “And that's where it all began!” he said. Fifty years later, in Barcelona, he was an on-water volunteer, accompanying and assisting the support boats and helping with on-water logistics in the port.
NAPLES AND CAGLIARI MAKE IT EXTRA SPECIAL
Naples brings drama and energy: a spectacular bay, a historic seafront, and a city that feels alive at every hour. After a shift, you can recharge with incredible food, stroll along the waterfront, and soak up the atmosphere of a place where the America’s Cup, history, and daily life mix effortlessly.
Sardinia and the city port of Cagliari offer a different rhythm with sunlit harbours, clear water, and a welcoming island feel. It is an outstanding, picturesque setting for the first Preliminary Regatta of the 38th America’s Cup cycle: compact, scenic, and easy to fall in love with. Volunteering here will feel like combining a meaningful project with an unforgettable travel experience.
THE MOMENTS YOU TAKE HOME ARE PRICELESS
Volunteers often remember the smaller moments as much as the big America’s Cup races: helping a family find the best viewpoint, hearing the roar from the waterfront when the AC40 or AC75 yachts launch and dock-out, watching teams fine-tune their setups, or simply feeling the event come together because hundreds of people played their part. It is the kind of experience that stays with you long after the last flag comes down.
Example from the Volunteer Team of 2024: Canadian Tom Hawker was a sailing enthusiast who attended his fifth America's Cup in 2024. He came to Barcelona to support the Concord Pacific Racing Women’s Team and to prepare an article for the specialist magazine 'Pacific'. While planning his trip Hawker decided that he could also do a few days of volunteering, and as a result was selected to help at the Media Centre supporting the photography team. It was the first time he has chosen to be a volunteer.
GETTING INVOLVED: WHAT TO EXPECT
Volunteer roles in the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup can range from guest services and information points to accreditation support, logistics, transport coordination, onshore operations, media centre staffing, Race Village coordination, sustainability initiatives or community activities. You do not need to be an expert sailor, reliability, a positive attitude, and willingness to learn are the values that the America’s Cup prizes most of all. If you enjoy teamwork, live events, and being outdoors, you are more than likely to thrive in this fast-paced environment.
Example from the Volunteer Team of 2024: The love of sailing and water sports is one of the main reasons people say they choose to get involved with the event. This was the case for Francesc Rossell, a volunteer on the sustainability team, who described himself as a ‘sea enthusiast.’ The same was true for Franc and Joan, who helped at one of the America's Cup information points and then decided to sign up for more shifts so they could continue to be involved in the America's Cup. This is also the case for Roy Thompson, who was a volunteer member of the hospitality team at Emirates Team New Zealand's famous ‘Kiwi Corner.’ An avid dinghy sailor, Roy previously volunteered in two past editions of the America's Cup.
We are looking for the most diverse team of Volunteers for both the Preliminary Regatta in Sardinia from the 21-24 May 2026 and for the entirety of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup that will run through May 2027 to the conclusion of the Match around the 18 July 2027.
If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get involved with the pinnacle of international yacht racing, and like a challenge, sign up today.