Australia launches its first America’s Cup challenge in a quarter of a century, preparing to compete in the 38th edition of the sailing event next year in Naples, Italy. Multiple reports say the bid is backed by a Sydney yacht club and a retail business figure described as a rich-lister. The challenge follows Australia’s last appearance for the trophy in the mid-1990s, and it comes ahead of the event where national competition is staged under the America’s Cup match rules.
The reports also reference Australia’s most recent landmark win: the America’s Cup in 1983, when the yacht Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, won the 175-year-old trophy. While the outlets differ slightly in how they phrase the timeframe and location details, they agree on the core elements: the country’s return to challenging for the America’s Cup after 25 years, the 38th edition in Naples, and the involvement of the Sydney-based sailing club and a retail-linked sponsor.
