
Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos Surge Toward SailGP Title as America’s Cup Naples Fleet Takes Shape
Here is the latest on SailGP 2026 America’s Cup. Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos have emerged as the team to beat in the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship after wins in Auckland, Rio. In fact, bermuda and New York, building a commanding position in the season’s standings as the 11-event campaign heads into its European leg. At the same time, sailing’s other marquee property, the America’s Cup. Continues to take shape for its 2027 edition in Naples, Italy. With five teams already confirmed and additional late entries — including a potential US challenger — working through the acceptance process.
Key Facts
- The 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship is an 11-event, 11-month season running January to November across Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, per ussailgpteam.com’s season schedule.
- BONDS Flying Roos (Australia) have won four of the season’s first seven events — New Zealand (Auckland), Brazil (Rio), Bermuda and New York — the strongest record of any team through the season’s midpoint.
- The U.S. SailGP Team won its home event in Sydney at the end of February, while Emirates GBR won the season-opener in Perth and Spain’s Los Gallos won in Halifax, Canada, in June.
- SailGP has confirmed a move to a split-fleet format for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to a headline report from the New Zealand Herald.
- The next SailGP stop is ROCKWOOL Sassnitz, Germany, on August 22-23, 2026.
- The 38th America’s Cup will be held in Naples, Italy, starting July 10, 2027 — the first time the event has been staged in Italy in its 175-year history — with a preliminary regatta in Cagliari, per Forbes.
- Five teams are confirmed for Naples: defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand, GB1 (Great Britain), Luna Rossa (Italy), Tudor Team Alinghi (Switzerland) and K-Challenge (France), with additional late entries — reportedly including US-based Riptide Racing and a possible second Italian and Australian team — still working through the acceptance process, per RNZ. This detail matters for anyone following SailGP 2026 America’s Cup.
SailGP’s Season-Long Battle Takes Shape (SailGP 2026 America’s Cup)
Unlike the America’s Cup, which crowns a champion once every few years. Also, sailGP runs a season-long league format across a global calendar. And 2026’s edition has produced one of the more one-sided title races in the event’s short history. BONDS Flying Roos, Australia’s entry, has been the standout team of the year so far. Winning in Auckland (February), Rio (April). Bermuda (May) and New York (May) — four wins from the season’s first seven events.
Meanwhile, according to the schedule and results summary published by the U.S. SailGP Team. That run of form leaves rivals chasing hard: the U.S. SailGP Team’s win at its home event in Sydney in late February remains a highlight of its season. Emirates GBR opened the year with victory in Perth. For now, and Spain’s Los Gallos broke through with a win in Halifax, Canada, in June. This detail matters for anyone following SailGP 2026 America’s Cup.
With the fleet having already raced in Portsmouth, England, in late July. The season now heads to continental Europe, with Sassnitz, Germany, hosting the next event on August 22-23. Followed by events in Spain and Geneva later in September before the campaign concludes with a season-ending double-header in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in late November.
SailGP has also confirmed it is shifting to a split-fleet race format for the remainder of the 2026 season. According to a report from the New Zealand Herald. A structural change that follows the addition of Brazil as a new venue this year and reflects the league’s continued experimentation with its competitive format as the fleet grows. This detail matters for anyone following SailGP 2026 America’s Cup.

America’s Cup: Naples Fleet Fills Out (SailGP 2026 America’s Cup)
While SailGP’s season plays out week to week, the sailing world’s oldest trophy is on a longer clock. Still, with the 38th America’s Cup not due to start racing until July 2027. Even so, the buildup has been a steady source of news through 2026.
Organizers confirmed the event will be staged in the Gulf of Naples — the first time in the Cup’s 175-year history that Italy has hosted — under a newly created America’s Cup Partnership (ACP) structure intended to strengthen governance and broaden the event’s commercial and fan appeal. Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton called it “the most anticipated in its 175-year history,” per Forbes’ coverage of the January announcement.
Meanwhile, Luna Rossa CEO Max Sirena struck an equally optimistic tone about the venue: “The Gulf of Naples is widely considered one of the most beautiful sailing venues in the world. In fact, and it will certainly provide a unique setting for the event.” This detail matters for anyone following SailGP 2026 America’s Cup.
Five teams have formally entered so far — Emirates Team New Zealand as defending champion, Great Britain’s GB1. Italy’s Luna Rossa, Switzerland’s Tudor Team Alinghi and France’s K-Challenge — all racing AC75 foiling monohulls. Organizers extended the entry deadline to March 31, 2026. And have since confirmed that additional late entries have been lodged and are moving through an acceptance process.
Also, though the identities of those challengers have not been formally disclosed pending each team’s own announcement. Dalton has previously floated three possibilities that could yet swell the fleet: an unnamed Australian team. A potential second Italian entry under the Mascalzone Latino name. And Riptide Racing, a US-based outfit reported to be exploring the purchase of an existing America’s Cup team package rather than building a campaign from scratch. This detail matters for anyone following SailGP 2026 America’s Cup.
A Quieter News Cycle, By Design
Meanwhile, sailing’s news rhythm differs from stick-and-ball sports: with the America’s Cup nearly a year away and SailGP’s season built around a handful of high-profile weekends spread across the globe. August 2026 is a period defined more by standings and buildup than by singular breaking events. That said, the SailGP title race — with BONDS Flying Roos holding a clear edge with four wins from seven regattas — gives fans a genuine. Live storyline to follow through the European leg. Meanwhile, the America’s Cup’s slow-building entry list offers a longer-term narrative heading toward 2027. For now, this detail matters for anyone following SailGP 2026 America’s Cup.
What’s Next
SailGP’s championship picture should sharpen considerably at Sassnitz in Germany on August 22-23. Followed by events in Spain and Geneva through September. Before the season concludes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in late November — all of which will determine whether BONDS Flying Roos can convert their strong midseason form into the SailGP season championship. On the America’s Cup side, sailing fans should expect the remaining late entries for Naples, potentially including a US challenger. As a result, to be formally confirmed in the coming months as the 38th America’s Cup builds toward its July 2027 start.
For related reading, see our guides to Skiing’s Quiet Season: FIS Sets 2026-27 World Cup Calendar as the Southern Hemisphere Takes Over and Lando Norris Ends Winless Run at Dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix as Antonelli Heads Into Summer Break With 50-Point Championship Lead.





