The Bay of Naples has become a stage for the world's fastest sailboats. The second Preliminary Regatta of the 38th America's Cup cycle runs from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September, and it's the first time these foiling monsters have raced on the water that will host next year's Louis Vuitton America's Cup itself, plus the Women's and Youth editions.
Six teams line up with eight AC40s, racing daily from 1400 to 1600. Fleet races build towards a final match race between the top two boats on Sunday. Three squads – Italy's Luna Rossa, Emirates Team New Zealand and the British GB2 Cobham Ultra entry – are also fielding separate Women's and Youth boats, so the waterfront will be busy all weekend.
On the water, the form guide makes interesting reading. The Italian crew look sharp on home water, while questions are being asked about whether the defending Kiwis should be nervous. The American boat has impressed, and the French and Swiss entries – La Roche-Posay Racing and Tudor Team Alinghi – have ground to make up after sitting mid-pack in practice.
The British squad has had a bruising run-up. Helmsman Dylan Fletcher took a black eye and GB1's foil arm took a gouge in a collision with an Alinghi chase boat during unofficial practice; Alinghi donated a replacement foil and the shore crew worked overnight to get the boat out for official racing. Beyond the damage, the team is juggling an ownership dispute with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS over the AC75 and a struggling SailGP campaign that has slipped to fifth in the season standings. Team boss Sir Ben Ainslie has historically thrived as the underdog, so a strong showing here wouldn't be a shock.
One notable absence: Australia hasn't launched yet. With this being the final racing opportunity before the Challengers' events next year, the Aussies have a lot of catching up to do in the eight months remaining – though their crew is settled and experienced together.
For travellers, the timing is ideal. Naples is offering a genuine spectacle on water that anyone can watch from the waterfront, months before the America's Cup proper turns the city into the sport's biggest stage. If you're in Campania this weekend, the racing window of 1400-1600 leaves mornings for the historic centre and evenings for pizza – and gives you bragging rights as someone who saw the form guide before anyone else.
