Australian Sailing Welcomes Australia’s Return to the America’s Cup
Australia II racing during the campaign that reshaped international sailing history. Credit: Gilles Martin-Raget
The following media release has been supplied by Australian Sailing and includes America’s Cup and elite sailing news for AFLOAT Magazine readers with an interest in international yacht racing.
Australian Sailing today proudly welcomed the announcement that Australia will field an official challenger for the 38th America’s Cup in 2027, marking the nation’s return to sailing’s most prestigious competition for the first time since 2000.
The announcement represents a landmark moment for Australian sailing and reignites the country’s proud association with one of the oldest and most iconic trophies in world sport.
Australia holds a unique place in America’s Cup history after Australia II famously ended the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak in 1983, a triumph that remains one of the defining moments in Australian sporting history and forever changed the global sailing landscape.
Australia’s team will be led by current Australia SailGP Team Skipper and CEO, Tom Slingsby OAM as the Head of Sailing. Slingsby is the perfect choice having won Olympic Gold and three consecutive SailGP titles for Australia, but until now he has been forced abroad for his America’s Cup career which has included a win with Oracle Team USA in 2013 and helming the New York Yacht Club’s Challenger American Magic in 2024.
Other team announcements today included Slingsby’s fellow Australian Sailing Team alumni Glenn Ashby (Head of Performance and Design) and Tash Bryant.
The Challenge has officially come from the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club in Sydney and is being supported by the Winning family with America’s Cup Hall of Fame inductee Grant Simmer OAM the CEO.
Simmer has competed in 11 America’s Cup cycles as crew or in team leadership for four wins, including his role as Navigator on Australia II’s historic victory in 1983. He helped design the winning 2003 and 2007 boats for Alinghi (Switzerland) before joining Oracle Team USA for the 2013 and 2017 campaigns where he added another victory.
The announcement will see many of Australia’s current golden generation of elite sailing talent return home to compete for the Cup in Green and Gold, reinforcing Australia’s standing as one of the world’s leading sailing nations.
The renewed national attention on the sport will also help inspire more Australians to discover sailing for the first time, while creating fresh opportunities for local clubs to grow participation, attract volunteers and strengthen community engagement.
From Tackers and Discover Sailing programs through to club racing and youth pathways, the visibility and excitement generated by an Australian America’s Cup campaign will provide an important platform to grow involvement in the sport at every level.
Australian Sailing President Shevaun Bruland said the organisation was thrilled to support the Australian Challenge as it embarks on the road to the 38th America’s Cup in Naples, Italy.
“The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of our sport and Australia has a proud history in the competition,” Bruland said.
“To see an Australian challenge return for the first time in more than two decades is incredibly exciting for our sailing community and for Australian sport more broadly.
“Australia has its fingerprints on almost every America’s Cup and SailGP team through the involvement of our athletes, coaches, designers and technical team members. They are the best of the best, and now they can represent their home country in an America’s Cup campaign which will also inspire more Australians to get involved in sailing at their local club.
“Major sporting moments create aspiration and excitement, and we know this challenge can inspire the nation and encourage the next generation of Australians to discover a lifelong connection with sailing.”
The above media release was supplied by Australian Sailing. Explore more sailing and regatta news at AFLOAT Magazine News.
