Emirates Team New Zealand confirms Naples regatta lineup and disputes legal claims

Emirates Team New Zealand has announced its crew lineup for the second Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta, scheduled to take place in Naples, Italy, from September 24–27, 2026. The team will field two AC40 boats: a senior crew led by skippers Nathan Outteridge and Seb Menzies, and a Women & Youth crew. This follows the team’s performance in the previous regatta in Cagliari, where the senior crew finished as runner-up.

Separately, Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton has issued a statement disputing legal claims made by North Sails. Dalton characterized the legal action as a “spurious attempt” to intimidate the team regarding patent ownership. He stated that North Sails has been aware of the relevant patents for over five years and has previously contractually acknowledged Emirates Team New Zealand’s ownership of the technology used in their sails.