World · Singapore Bureau
Australia charts America's Cup comeback after 27-year absence
Australia's first America's Cup challenge in nearly three decades faces a compressed timeline, but the team's leadership is confident they can overcome rushed preparations to contend for the prestigious sailing trophy in Naples next year.
LSN Singapore ·
MELBOURNE — Australia is mounting its first serious bid for the America's Cup since 1995, with the nation's challenge team working at an accelerated pace to prepare for competition in Naples in 2024. The campaign has been compressed from the start, requiring the team to compress typical preparation schedules to meet international deadlines.
Glenn Ashby, the challenge's performance and design chief, expressed confidence that despite the tight timeline, the team possesses the capability and expertise to overcome the abbreviated build-up. Ashby's appointment signals Australia's commitment to assembling world-class technical talent as it seeks to reclaim the trophy that has eluded the nation for more than a quarter century.
The America's Cup, one of sport's oldest and most prestigious competitions, represents the pinnacle of professional sailing. Australia's return to the competition marks a significant moment for the nation's sailing community and underscores growing commercial and sporting interest in the event in the Asia-Pacific region.
The team's condensed preparation schedule reflects broader challenges in assembling the necessary resources, personnel, and technical infrastructure required for a credible Cup challenge. Nevertheless, Ashby's optimism about the team's prospects suggests Australia's sailing talent and competitive drive remain formidable, even when working against compressed timelines.