Challenger Series – Episode 3: Preparing for Battle: GB1's Road to the America's Cup

GB1 Challenger Series – Episode 3: Preparing for Battle: GB1's Road to the America's Cup

As the road to the 38th America's Cup gathers momentum, the GB1 team enters a crucial phase of its campaign with the start of Training Camp 3 in Sardinia. Every session on the water, every technical discussion and every design decision is now focused on one objective – building a team capable of challenging for sailing's greatest prize in 2027.

Like a Formula One car, modern America's Cup yachts demand constant attention and refinement. The AC40 training yacht serves as a critical development platform, allowing sailors and engineers to test ideas, improve communication and refine race procedures. Every day on the water provides valuable data that can influence future performance.

Camp 3 welcomes a significant new addition to the sailing squad in Andrea Tesei. Having competed in two America's Cup campaigns with Luna Rossa, the Italian sailor brings a wealth of elite-level experience and technical expertise.

Working alongside Dylan Fletcher, Bleddyn Mon and Ben Cornish, Andrea's arrival adds another dimension to the team's development. His insights into systems, boat handling and race preparation provide valuable knowledge that can help accelerate the learning process as the team pushes towards competition.

While the sailors focus on extracting maximum performance from the AC40, another equally important project is progressing behind the scenes. Design work is underway on the future AC75 race yacht – the machine that will ultimately compete for the America's Cup itself.

The AC40 remains the primary training platform throughout the campaign. As a one-design boat, it is used by all teams in preliminary regattas as well as the Youth and Women's America's Cup events. However, the AC75 represents a very different challenge.

For the 37th America's Cup in 2024, AC75 yachts raced with crews of eight, including helms, trimmers and cyclors responsible for generating hydraulic power. For the 2027 edition, significant rule changes have transformed crew operations. Cyclors have been removed entirely, with onboard systems now powered through battery-driven hydraulic pumps. As a result, race crews will consist of five sailors, with a sixth cockpit available for a guest racer.

Despite the changes, teams are permitted to reuse their existing AC75 hulls from the previous cycle, creating a fascinating blend of proven design and new technological innovation as the next generation of race boats takes shape.

Back on the water in Sardinia, the next generation of British talent continues to integrate into the programme. Rookies Ryan Littlechild and Finn Dickinson have spent valuable time embedded within the team, learning the demands of America's Cup racing. Finn has already experienced one of the sport's most dramatic moments after being involved in an AC40 capsize, providing a firsthand lesson in the challenges of high-performance foiling yachts.

As the first Preliminary Regatta approaches, team selection becomes a major talking point. With competition only weeks away, every sailor is striving to secure their place on the race team.

For GB1, the selected crew will be led by Dylan Fletcher at the helm alongside Bleddyn Mon, Andrea Tesei and Ben Cornish. The announcement marks an important milestone as the team shifts from training mode towards race preparation.

Meanwhile, Team Principal Hannah Mills has also finalised her selection for the Athena Pathway Programme team, ensuring Britain's development pathway remains closely aligned with the wider America's Cup campaign.

With the first Preliminary Regatta beginning on 21 May 2026, the pressure is increasing across both organisations. Training camps are giving way to competition, selections have been made and attention is turning towards performance on the racecourse.