The AC40 preliminary regatta in Naples turned out to be more than a warm-up act. Luna Rossa took the win and, according to Yachting World columnist Matt Sheahan, got a standing ovation from fellow passengers when the team boarded a flight to Sardinia the next day. That kind of reception tells you something about where the Cup's emotional home currently sits.

Italy has long been the most engaged nation in modern America's Cup racing, and Naples lived up to its reputation. Crowds packed the seafront to watch the racing, building on the big turnout at the first preliminary event in Cagliari back in May. With the 38th America's Cup itself confirmed for Naples next year, the atmosphere alone is reason enough for travelling fans to plan a trip.

The racing had surprises too. The Naples course is far less studied than previous Cup venues, so teams arrived with less data on a shifty race area full of passing opportunities. Luna Rossa turned that to their advantage, reading the conditions better than rivals who had more raw pace. Notably, the Italian squad changed 75% of its sailing team since winning in Cagliari, yet the new pairing of former Kiwi helm Peter Burling and young Italian co-helm Marco Gradoni clicked immediately.

Other signs of a shifting order: the French team, despite two capswizes and a rough SailGP season, still finished third, and their AC75 programme at Bagnoli looks advanced, with Quentin Delapierre and Spaniard Diego Botin gelling as a helming duo. ARC Team USA showed promise on debut with Harry Melges and Lucas Calabrese. Meanwhile the two British entries, GB1 and Cobham-Ultra GB2, struggled badly, hampered by equipment issues and collisions, with results sliding in SailGP too. Sheahan worries the British focus has drifted towards the bigger AC75s at the expense of time on the water - a mistake the Kiwis made before their 2003 wake-up call. Even the defenders, second in Naples, looked less than invincible.

For travellers, the takeaway is simple: the 38th America's Cup in Naples already has the ingredients of a standout sporting occasion - a passionate host city, a genuinely competitive field and a venue that keeps everyone honest. If you want front-row atmosphere without stadium prices, watching from the Naples seafront looks like one of sailing's best free tickets in 2026.