While plans are being laid for the 38th edition of the event, likely to be contested in 2027, it will take place without Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
In a statement to the Herald, the Swiss syndicate confirmed they would not be part of the next cycle of the event and had begun an “orderly wind-down” of the team.
“Despite all our efforts, we – Alinghi Red Bull Racing – have not been able to find agreement with the Defender of the America’s Cup for the future of the event,” the statement said.
“We would like to have seen more accountability, greater transparency and new opportunities to perform not only individually but as a group.
“That way we might all of us together could have delivered a commercially viable event capable of attracting global TV coverage, spectators and sponsors.
“So, it is with great disappointment that we have begun an orderly wind-down of the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team.
The 2024 regatta was Alinghi Red Bull Racing's first in the America's Cup since 2010. Photo / America's Cup
“The brands that have formed that team will always be part of the America’s Cup history and the last few years have been an incredible journey. We thank every team member, every sponsor and every supporter for their belief, trust and commitment throughout.”
The yacht club the team represented, La Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), also confirmed when contacted by the Herald that they would not be putting in a challenge for the 38th America’s Cup.
In response to Alinghi’s statement, Emirates Team New Zealand and America’s Cup event chief executive Grant Dalton told the Herald it was a surprise and that the Swiss team had been supportive in meetings so far.
“It is surprising to hear the news of Alinghi Red Bull Racing, although it has been somewhat obvious for some time that they have been struggling to recover from their lacklustre performance in Barcelona last October and give themselves an ‘on-water’ opportunity to win in AC38 [the 38th America’s Cup],” Dalton said.
“Since the conclusion of AC37, all the teams have been actively involved in trying to form an arrangement which would secure a more open and inclusive running of the America’s Cup and Alinghi Red Bull Racing have seemingly been very supportive of the initiative along with all participants.
“There have even been specific concessions in the draft Protocol at Alinghi’s request which have been accommodated, such as relaxing the nationality rule to allow two non-nationals to help them to bolster their sailing talent on board as well as establishing working groups made up of representatives of all teams to come together on racing formats and TV media broadcast initiatives.
“We feel sympathy today for the dedicated team members that have now lost their jobs as a result of this.”
It closes another chapter on the Swiss syndicate’s colourful history in the event.
In 2003, Alinghi won the America’s Cup for the first time, beating Team New Zealand 5-0 after a change in nationality rules allowed them to build a strong team which included Kiwis Sir Russell Coutts, Brad Butterworth, and Murray Jones, among others.
They then defended the Auld Mug in Valencia in 2007 – again beating Team New Zealand in the Cup match. That was the last America’s Cup to feature more than five challenging teams.
Last year’s regatta in Barcelona was the first time since they lost the Cup in 2010 that Ernesto Bertarelli’s group returned to the arena.
That event was riddled with controversy as, after winning the 2007 Cup match against Team New Zealand, Alinghi accepted Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) as the challenger of record (COR).
The yacht club was newly formed and had never held an annual regatta, which was a point made clear by the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), represented by Larry Ellison’s Oracle BMW Racing, when they took to the courts to question the legitimacy of CNEV and have the club removed as COR, while issuing a challenge for the Cup themselves.
The GGYC won their case, and in 2009 the New York Court of Appeals ruled in their favour again after the original ruling was appealed by SNG.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing were eliminated by Ineos Britannia in the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series. Photo / America's Cup
Oracle BMW Racing went on to win the Auld Mug in a Deed of Gift match.
In 2024, Alinghi were one of two teams competing in the AC75 foiling monohull for the first time.
That put them on the back foot from the start, given four of the five other teams involved in the campaign had already gone through a full cycle in the class.
They did, however, get to work faster than fellow newcomers Orient Express Racing Team and ultimately progressed into the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series, before being eliminated by Ineos Britannia, who went on to challenge Team New Zealand in the Cup match.
With the protocol for the next edition of the America’s Cup still a work in progress, entries for challengers are not yet officially open.
As well as working on the protocol, Dalton flew out to Europe late last week for meetings with potential host venues.
A venue is to due to be confirmed by June 20 this year, with the protocol to be released before then as well.
Alinghi’s decision not to enter another challenge is the latest in a series of high-profile developments in the campaign already.
Team New Zealand last week announced they had parted ways with long-time helmsman Peter Burling.
Ineos chief executive Sir Jim Ratcliffe scrapped his plans to enter a second British challenge, noting the time it had taken to come to a settlement with Sir Ben Ainslie’s Athena Racing after their split had eaten into their ability to launch a competitive campaign.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
