Australia's 38th America's Cup Challenge Accepted

Australia's Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club confirmed Thursday that its challenge for the 38th America's Cup has been accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, signaling the nation's return to the competition after more than two decades. Team Australia, backed by sailor and businessman John Winning Jr. and his family, will join five other challengers vying for the right to face defender Emirates Team New Zealand in Naples, Italy, with the match scheduled for summer 2027.

Olympic gold medalist Tom Slingsby, a two-time World Sailor of the Year and current SailGP competitor, will serve as head of sailing. Three-time America's Cup winner Glenn Ashby joins as head of performance and design, while Grant Simmer, a crew member on the victorious 1983 Australia II, takes the role of chief executive officer.

"This campaign is both deeply personal and incredibly exciting," Simmer said. "I first became involved in the America's Cup in the early 1980s and was fortunate to be part of the legendary Australia II team that changed the course of the Cup forever."

Slingsby echoed the sentiment: "The opportunity to represent Australia in the America's Cup with an Australian team is something...