Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Welcome to the first episode of the official podcast of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup as we go under the surface of one of the most competitive and secretive sports events in the world, and explain the decisions that separate winning from losing.
In this first show our intrepid reporter Niall Myant-Best is dropped into a historic moment at the first meeting of the America's Cup Partnership in Naples, Italy - a seismic change in the governance of the sport. And with only months until the first preliminary regatta, a fierce race has already begun off the water. Is this the end of the America's Cup as we know it? Who are the winners and losers? And if AC38 was sailed tomorrow which teams would have the lead? With exclusive inside access, Niall puts these challenging questions and more to the key figures in this Cup cycle.
Guests: Grant Dalton, Ben Ainslie, Ernesto Bertarelli, Stephan Kandler, Bruno Dubois, Max Sirena, Margherita Porro and writer Magnus Wheatley.
Follow this Podcast for more episodes on the road to Naples 2027.
Chapter TimeStamps
00:00 Intro: The Historic Palace of Naples
01:02 The History & Evolution of the America's Cup
02:55 Explaining the America’s Cup Partnership (ACP)
07:35 First Racing Dates of 2026: Sardinia & AC40s
08:24 Grant Dalton: Avoiding the Deed Of Gift Match
14:03 Mandating Female Sailors for AC38
19:16 Ben Ainslie: Rebuilding the British Team
29:38 Ernesto Bertarelli: Why Alinghi Returned
33:07 Stephan Kandler: Democracy vs. Tyranny
35:08 Bruno Dubois: The Business of Sailing
36:09 Max Sirena: "We Are Not Friends"
38:46 Margherita Porro: The Future of Women’s Racing
43:08 Magnus Wheatley: Is This the Most Winnable Cup?
48:22 Outro: What’s Next for Inside America’s Cup
SUBSCRIBE to the official America's Cup channel: youtube.com/c/americascup
Like America’s Cup on Facebook: facebook.com/americascup
Follow America’s Cup on X: twitter.com/americascup
Follow America’s Cup on Instagram: instagram.com/americascup
Stay up to date with the America’s Cup newsletter: americascup.com/en/newsletter
The Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup will be defended in Naples, Italy by five-time America's Cup winner, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron represented by their team, @EmiratesTeamNZ and the British team led by Sir Ben Ainslie as the official Challenger of Record.
#AmericasCup #AC38 #Naples2027 #sailingcompetition #sportshistory
Welcome to the first episode of the official podcast of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup as we go under the surface of one of the most competitive and secretive sports events in the world, and explain the decisions that separate winning from losing.
In this first show our intrepid reporter Niall Myant-Best is dropped into a historic moment at the first meeting of the America's Cup Partnership in Naples, Italy - a seismic change in the governance of the sport. And with only months until the first preliminary regatta, a fierce race has already begun off the water. Is this the end of the America's Cup as we know it? Who are the winners and losers? And if AC38 was sailed tomorrow which teams would have the lead? With exclusive inside access, Niall puts these challenging questions and more to the key figures in this Cup cycle.
Guests: Grant Dalton, Ben Ainslie, Ernesto Bertarelli, Stephan Kandler, Bruno Dubois, Max Sirena, Margherita Porro and writer Magnus Wheatley.
Follow this Podcast for more episodes on the road to Naples 2027.
Chapter TimeStamps
00:00 Intro: The Historic Palace of Naples
01:02 The History & Evolution of the America's Cup
02:55 Explaining the America’s Cup Partnership (ACP)
07:35 First Racing Dates of 2026: Sardinia & AC40s
08:24 Grant Dalton: Avoiding the Deed Of Gift Match
14:03 Mandating Female Sailors for AC38
19:16 Ben Ainslie: Rebuilding the British Team
29:38 Ernesto Bertarelli: Why Alinghi Returned
33:07 Stephan Kandler: Democracy vs. Tyranny
35:08 Bruno Dubois: The Business of Sailing
36:09 Max Sirena: "We Are Not Friends"
38:46 Margherita Porro: The Future of Women’s Racing
43:08 Magnus Wheatley: Is This the Most Winnable Cup?
48:22 Outro: What’s Next for Inside America’s Cup
SUBSCRIBE to the official America's Cup channel: youtube.com/c/americascup
Like America’s Cup on Facebook: facebook.com/americascup
Follow America’s Cup on X: twitter.com/americascup
Follow America’s Cup on Instagram: instagram.com/americascup
Stay up to date with the America’s Cup newsletter: americascup.com/en/newsletter
The Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup will be defended in Naples, Italy by five-time America's Cup winner, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron represented by their team, @EmiratesTeamNZ and the British team led by Sir Ben Ainslie as the official Challenger of Record.
#AmericasCup #AC38 #Naples2027 #sailingcompetition #sportshistory
