USA ready to race
ARC Team USA has confirmed its four-person AC40 crew for the 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples, where the new American challenger will make its competitive debut.
Photography by America's Cup
24 September 2026
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ARC Team USA will make its first competitive appearance in Naples from 24 to 27 September, with Lucas Calabrese, Harry Melges IV, Hans Henken and Michael Menninger selected to race the team’s AC40 and Riley Gibbs named as reserve.
The Naples Preliminary Regatta, running from 24 to 27 September, will be the first opportunity for ARC Team USA to line up against its America’s Cup rivals after an intensive build-up and final training camp in Italy.
The campaign has assembled its sailing, design, technical and operational groups over recent months as it prepares for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.
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ARC Team USA CEO Ken Read said reaching the start line represented an important milestone for the new team.
“Getting to the regatta start line is a big moment for us,” Read said.
He said the Naples event would provide the team with its first meaningful benchmark against established America’s Cup rivals, with the focus on racing, learning and improving through the regatta.
Sailing Director Giles Scott said the team’s final training camp had been productive, giving the sailors valuable time to refine communication, boat handling and race processes.
Now we get to put ourselves under proper race pressure. That’s where we’ll learn the most,” Scott said.
The team enters its first regatta following several recent campaign developments, including a strategic partnership with US Sailing and the appointment of CODE-ZERO as Official Technical Apparel and Teamwear Supplier.
ARC Team USA is an official challenger for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, representing Sail Newport. The campaign is backed by entrepreneurs Karel Komárek and Chris Welch and led by Read and Scott.
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