• Media ID-26615

    RECON: THE SPY GAME

    The Joint Reconnaissance Programme (Recon) will return for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples, and audiences will get even more insights and behind-the-scenes experiences than ever before. Introduced for the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Recon was aimed at both cost reduction for the teams and to provide daily commentary and analysis to spectators before the lead-up to the regatta in Barcelona. This was largely in response to the 36th America’s Cup, where the situation on the water was, at times, bordering on unworkable with multiple team spy vessels following and tracking individual AC75s as they went about their training schedule.

  • Media ID-22296

    WHAT IS RECON ALL ABOUT?
    THE BEHIND-THE-SCENE VIEW ON
    ALL TEAMS’ DEVELOPMENTS

    The America’s Cup Joint Reconnaissance Programme is your all-access pass into the most secretive, high-tech arms race in sport. Created to give every team equal, fair, and transparent insight (and to eliminate the dangerous and costly espionage battles of the past) it places dedicated observers trackside (and dockside) with every syndicate. You’ll witness raw, unfiltered development in real time as teams grind through endless tests to unlock the fastest possible AC75. With exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews from sailors, designers, and performance analysts, Recon gives a rare glimpse into how successful teams are built.

RECON INFO
THE SPY GAME GOES INTO THE NEXT ROUND

  • TEAMS

    Five teams are already confirmed for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.

    As late entry closes in January 2026 and the AC75 training window reopens, anticipation is building across the sailing world.

    Eyes are on the teams and we are waiting to see who makes the first move and hits the water.

  • THE BOATS

    At the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup we will see the AC75s on the race course again. Each team is restricted to building only one new yacht while retaining an existing hull design. Training days in-between events are strictly regulated, and each team has a specified on-water days available based on previous race performance and experience. These rules ensure an even playing field and more tight racing is to be expected.

    The AC40s will also make a return and are anticipated to be sailed at Preliminary Regattas as well as the Youth and Women's events.

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  • TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

    The America’s Cup stands at the forefront of technological advancement and engineering excellence in competitive sailing, embodying a dynamic fusion of sport and innovation. Yacht development is an interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing on partnerships with engineering powerhouses, including Formula 1TM teams, to pioneer advancements in material sciences, aerodynamics, and hydrodynamics. 

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  • Media ID-26520

    WHAT DO THE TEAMS SEE?
    RECON RULES

    Under the Joint Recon Programme, every America’s Cup team is shadowed by an independent recon unit, made up of a skilled photographer/content creator and a RIB driver capable of keeping pace with AC75s flying at 50+ knots. Teams must declare their sailing days in advance, and recon crews will guarantee neutrality and consistent, unbiased reporting.

    Each sailing team receives a private feed of RAW photos, video, and structured technical observations captured during the respective training sessions. Meanwhile, fans gain access to an unfiltered, authentic, behind-the-scenes window into development: daily videos, interviews with sailors and designers, and insights from the experts.

  • Media ID-5554

    A STORY AS OLD AS THE CUP:
    THE SPY GAME

    Espionage in the America’s Cup is almost as old as the trophy itself. For more than 174 years, teams have gone to extraordinary lengths to protect their innovations, and to uncover their rivals’ possible advantages. From shrouding revolutionary keels under veils to sneaking mystery “team members” into boat sheds and training facilities, the Cup has seen every trick in the book.

    At the pinnacle of sailing, where technological breakthroughs decide victory, having an edge has always been essential. This long, colourful history of cloak-and-dagger tactics is exactly why today’s Joint Recon Programme exists: bringing fairness, transparency, and a safer way to satisfy the Cup’s timeless appetite for innovation.