From 24 – 27 September Naples will officially begin to experience the excitement of the America’s Cup with a Preliminary Regatta that promises a spectacular show and serves as a preview of the main event in 2027, when, for the first time in history, the world’s oldest, continually contested, sporting contest will come to Italy.
The announcement was made in Cagliari, during the first Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta, in the presence of the Minister of Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi; the Special Commissioner for Bagnoli-Coroglio and Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi; the President of the Campania Region, Roberto Fico; the President and CEO of Sport e Salute, Marco Mezzaroma and Diego Nepi Molineris; and the Chief Executive Officer of the America’s Cup Partnership, Marzio Perrelli.
To allow for the completion of redevelopment work in the Bagnoli area, the participating teams will be hosted at the Navy Logistics Command in Nisida, thanks to significant inter-institutional collaboration coordinated by the Italian government. The crews will then move to Bagnoli, where they will remain until 2027.
The racecourse will be the Bay of Naples, a unique setting that will serve as the backdrop for the races. The event will represent not only a preview of international-level competition but also an opportunity to showcase to the world Italy’s ability to organise and host global-scale events in anticipation of the historic 2027 event and the urban transformation of Naples.
Andrea Abodi, Minister for Sport and Youth, said: “The Neapolitan city is thus preparing for a first dress rehearsal in its charming stretch of water, a baptism that holds many meanings, embodying the spirit of collaboration among institutions and the rebirth of a place, Bagnoli, which has been left to its own devices for over thirty years. The America’s Cup has spanned the centuries, consolidating its universal value, and Naples is, after Cagliari, a stop on a journey that began just over a year ago with the awarding of the organisation. This journey is proceeding with concreteness and punctuality, day after day, staying on course as we approach what will be the world’s most important sailing event in 2027.”
Marco Mezzaroma, President of Sport e Salute, said: “The decision to schedule the preliminary regatta for late September stems from a careful and shared assessment, grounded in vision, planning, and common sense: a decision designed to extend the summer season, facilitate better management of traffic flows in the Gulf of Naples, allow for the optimal completion of the Bagnoli redevelopment works—which are proceeding at a rapid pace—and provide a further boost to tourism and the local economy.”
