America’s Cup Drops Its First Move: Cagliari Named Opening Preliminary Battleground

The road to the 38th America’s Cup has officially begun — and it starts in Sardinia.

Cagliari has been confirmed as the host city for the first Preliminary Regatta of the America’s Cup cycle, firing the opening shot on the long, high-stakes march toward Naples 2027.

This isn’t a warm-up. It’s a signal.

Sky Sport Italy confirmed the agreement, locking Sardinia into the official America’s Cup calendar and putting elite foiling back on one of Europe’s most proven race tracks.

Quick Hull Check

Cagliari will host the first Preliminary Regatta of the 38th America’s Cup
The event opens the official racing pathway to Naples 2027
The agreement was confirmed by the Sardinia regional government
The regatta is expected to feature AC40 foiling monohulls
Full dates and format to be announced shortly

Translation: the Cup is back in Italy before the Cup is back in Italy.

The Setup

America’s Cup Preliminary Regattas aren’t ceremonial. They’re pressure tests.

They’re where teams validate new systems, stress their foils, and figure out who actually shows up ready — and who’s still guessing. Opening that process in Cagliari is a deliberate move.

The Gulf of Angels offers exactly what designers and sailors need early in a cycle: steady breeze, flat water windows, and just enough variability to punish sloppy setup.

This is a place where clean takeoffs matter.

The Moment

The confirmation landed quietly, but the implications are loud.

By naming Cagliari as the opening preliminary stop, America’s Cup organizers are anchoring the narrative early. Italy isn’t just the final host nation. It’s now the launch platform.

So why start here?

Because this is familiar water for elite foiling teams — especially Luna Rossa — and familiarity removes excuses. When the boats roll out in Sardinia, performance gaps won’t hide behind logistics.

This is straight into race mode.

Foil Nerd Corner

The Preliminary Regattas are expected to be sailed in AC40s.

An AC40 is a one-design foiling monohull designed to replicate America’s Cup flight dynamics at a smaller, sharper scale. Same concepts. Less margin.

Foiling, in simple terms, is flying to reduce hull drag. The moment the boat lifts — the takeoff — becomes everything.

Cagliari’s conditions reward teams that manage ride height cleanly and avoid ventilation, when air gets sucked down the foil and steals lift.

Translation: this venue exposes who’s dialed and who’s still chasing stability.

How We Got Here

Cagliari is no stranger to the Cup ecosystem.

The city has hosted multiple training campaigns, base operations, and test programs over the past cycles. It’s been Luna Rossa territory — but also neutral enough to earn trust from the broader fleet.

With Naples confirmed as the main America’s Cup venue in 2027, placing the first Preliminary Regatta in Sardinia creates a clean geographic storyline.

From islands to mainland. From setup to showdown.

Dock Talk: The Debate

There’s already dockside chatter.

Some argue that opening the prelims in a known venue favors teams with historical data. Others counter that consistency early in the cycle is essential for safety and fair benchmarking.

Here’s the reality: early prelims aren’t about surprises. They’re about establishing a performance baseline.

And Cagliari is brutally honest water.

What Happens Next

A formal presentation is expected soon, with dates, race format, and shore program details.

Once those drop, teams will shift from development mode to execution mode — fast.

This regatta won’t decide the Cup. But it will decide who belongs in the conversation.

The Last Wake

America’s Cup cycles are long.

What matters is who controls the narrative early.

By opening the Preliminary Regattas in Cagliari, the Cup isn’t easing into the future. It’s stepping straight onto the foils.

The road to Naples starts now. And it starts flying.

38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta to Open in Cagliari, Sardinia