With preparations for the 38th America's Cup continuing to gather pace in Naples, GB1 CEO Ian Walker has praised the progress being made in Bagnoli while highlighting the scale of the challenge facing teams as they begin their campaigns for sailing's biggest prize.
Having followed the development of the venue from the very beginning, Walker said it has been remarkable to see the transformation already taking place along the Naples waterfront.
"I feel very lucky to have seen the development in Bagnoli from the very beginning, so it's amazing to see the progress," he said, pointing to the construction of the breakwater, waterfront infrastructure and wider regeneration efforts. He believes the America's Cup will play an important role in helping revitalise the area and expects significant progress to continue over the coming months.
For Walker, the defining feature of an America's Cup in Naples will be the passion of both the city and its people.
© Cameron Gregory
"The America's Cup in Naples is going to be about passion," he explained. "It's going to be about passion for the sport of sailing and passion for the America's Cup." Set against the backdrop of the Bay of Naples, which Walker described as an "incredible amphitheatre", the event is expected to deliver a unique atmosphere both on and off the water.
Looking ahead to the competition itself, Walker believes the Italian challenge will be among the leading contenders when racing begins.
Asked who he sees as the team to beat, he pointed to Luna Rossa following their strong performances in recent America's Cup competition, while also recognising the strength of defending champions Team New Zealand.
Walker also highlighted one of the key differences between Olympic sailing and the America's Cup, drawing on his own experiences at the highest level of the sport.
"The Olympics is very much an individual thing," he said. "Maybe you and your teammate and a coach. Whereas the America's Cup is an army of people." Success, he explained, depends on every department performing at its highest level, from designers and sailors to operations and logistics teams.
Bringing all of those elements together remains one of the most important responsibilities for a modern America's Cup challenge.
"Everybody has to be the best of the best," Walker said. "It's my job leading the team to make sure everybody works well together."
© Ian Roman / America's Cup
As GB1 continues its preparations for AC38, Walker admits there is no shortage of challenges to think about.
"Everything keeps you awake at night with the America's Cup," he joked, acknowledging the countless variables involved in mounting a successful campaign. However, his priorities remain clear: building a fast, reliable boat and creating the strong team culture needed to maximise performance.
"The most important thing is that we have a fast and reliable boat," Walker said. "To have a fast and reliable boat, then we need good people and we need a strong team and we need to work together."
With excitement building ahead of racing in Naples, GB1's focus remains firmly on assembling the people, performance and infrastructure required to challenge for the America's Cup.