Alinghi Red Bull Racing have been spotted loading their AC75 yacht as preparations intensify for the 38th America’s Cup, scheduled to take place in Naples in 2027. The moment, captured during logistical operations, signals that the Swiss syndicate is moving into a critical phase of their campaign as teams begin positioning assets ahead of the next edition of sailing’s most prestigious trophy.
Alinghi’s Return to the America’s Cup Stage
Alinghi’s involvement in the America’s Cup carries enormous historical weight. The Swiss team, founded by billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, shocked the sailing world by winning the Cup in 2003 in Auckland, becoming only the second non-English-speaking team and the first landlocked nation to claim the Auld Mug. They successfully defended in Valencia in 2007 before losing the trophy in the dramatic 2010 Deed of Gift match against BMW Oracle Racing.
After more than a decade away from the event, Alinghi returned for the 37th America’s Cup cycle in Barcelona in 2024, partnering with Red Bull to form Alinghi Red Bull Racing. While they were eliminated during the challenger selection series, the campaign re-established the team as a serious contender and provided invaluable experience with the foiling AC75 class.
The AC75 Platform and Naples 2027
The AC75 class, first introduced for the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland in 2021, has redefined modern Cup racing. These 75-foot foiling monohulls are capable of sailing at speeds exceeding 50 knots, lifted above the water on hydrofoils and powered by twin-skin mainsails that function more like aircraft wings than traditional sails. The boats represent the cutting edge of marine engineering, with each team investing hundreds of millions in design and development.
The 38th America’s Cup in Naples marks a return to Italian waters and to the Mediterranean, a venue steeped in maritime heritage. Naples offers a dramatic racing backdrop with Mount Vesuvius looming over the Gulf, and the city’s consistent thermal winds and open-water conditions should provide an excellent stage for AC75 racing.
What the Loading Signals
The physical movement of an AC75 is no small undertaking. These yachts require specialized transport and handling, and the logistics of shipping a boat of this complexity — along with spare foils, control systems, and support equipment — demand months of planning. That Alinghi are already loading their boat suggests the team is on schedule and potentially gearing up for early testing or a base setup in the Naples region.
For the broader America’s Cup fleet, every move by a rival team is watched closely. The timing of when teams arrive, begin sailing, and start optimizing in local conditions can provide crucial competitive advantages. Alinghi’s early activity will not go unnoticed by competing syndicates.
A Campaign Built on Experience
With one full AC75 cycle now behind them from Barcelona, Alinghi Red Bull Racing enter the 38th edition with significantly more knowledge of the platform. The team retained key personnel and design expertise from their 2024 campaign, and the lessons learned during the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series will inform their approach to boat development, sail design, and race strategy.
As the Naples America’s Cup cycle accelerates, the loading of Alinghi’s AC75 is a tangible reminder that the next chapter of this centuries-old competition is firmly underway. The Swiss team will be determined to go further this time — and the journey has clearly already begun.
