ARC Workforce USA Wins on Debut and Takes Fourth in First America’s Cup Regatta

by ARC Workforce USA 27 Sep 19:01 UTC
September 25-27, 2026

If luck represents the second when alternative and preparation cross tacks, ARC Workforce USA loved an auspicious begin to their multi-Cup marketing campaign on the Louis Vuitton thirty eighth America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Naples, which simply concluded in Naples, Italy.

The startup American-flagged staff, based by Karel Komárek and Chris Welch, and led by CEO Ken Learn, foiled their one-design AC40 onto the America’s Cup stage for the primary time on Friday (September 26) to win the primary of the occasion’s eight fleet races earlier than then delivering a string of strong begins within the regatta’s remaining contests. The staff, which is representing Sail Newport, in the end completed in fourth place out of the nine-strong fleet of AC40 foiling monohulls, displaying that, whereas there’s nonetheless a lot to study, the upstart American-flagged staff can play ball.

Not dangerous for a staff that did not exist six months in the past, however the staff is lifelike about the place they presently stand in opposition to the fleet.

“We’re very clearly an underdog,” mentioned Learn of the staff’s mindset coming into the primary occasion of their marketing campaign for thirty eighth America’s Cup, which marks only the start of their multi-Cup effort to carry the Auld Mug again to the American shores by 2031.

“However an underdog can develop into a darkish horse should you begin displaying some vital success,” Learn continued, noting that the staff’s present underdog standing calls for extra from every staff member, from the sailors to the shore crew, to make up for misplaced time.

Different groups began months, years, or whole Cup cycles forward of the Individuals.

Whereas ARC Workforce USA approached the PR2 as an intensive coaching camp, their out-of-the-gate win in Race 1 delivered an vital momentum enhance.

“None of us anticipated issues to go so effectively out of the gate. Everyone seems to be placing in an enormous effort, and with such little time forward of the PR2, we’re all happy with the primary race.” Harry Melges IV, Helm, ARC Workforce USA

Successful feels nice, after all, nevertheless it’s usually the onerous races which might be the perfect lecturers, and PR2 additionally delivered the staff their share of teachable moments. This included a pair of seventh-place finishes in Races 2 and 4, an eighth-place end in Race 6, plus a ninth-place lead to Race 7.

“We had a whole lot of good takeaways,” mentioned Melges of those races. “We’re so younger and new that we want dangerous days to kick our butts into gear and speed up our studying curve.”

This studying curve is clearly steep, however the staff’s teachable moments had been offset by their bullet in Race 1, a fifth-place end in Race 3, and a fourth in Race 5.

However it was the staff’s spectacular third-place efficiency in Race 8, proper after their robust back-of-the-fleet end, that exhibits that this staff might develop into a darkish horse by the beginning of the beginning of subsequent spring’s Louis Vuitton Cup, which determines the staff will meet the Defender, Emirates Workforce New Zealand, for the thirty eighth America’s Cup.

“What amazes strangers who first come right here probably the most is that it appears like this staff has been collectively for 20 years, not 20 weeks,” mentioned Learn of the staff’s heads-down, quietly-doing-their-jobs work ethic and tradition. “Everyone is having enjoyable, and I believe that when individuals have enjoyable, they do higher.”

Enjoyable apart, Learn was clear that it is a staff that freely owns their errors.

“That is precisely the kind of environment you are on the lookout for, the place everybody desires to get higher, and everyone is prepared to place their hand up and say, ‘you understand what, I might have performed this higher’. And that is the kind of tradition we’re constructing.” Ken Learn, CEO, ARC Workforce USA

This was evident throughout the groups soto-voce onboard communications throughout all eight fleet races.

Quantity, timbre, and emotion had been calm and managed, regardless of whether or not the crusing staff, consisting of Lucas Calabrese, Melges, Michael Menninger, and Hans Henken, was commanding the pole place or combating for scraps behind the fleet.

“We’re a younger staff and clearly all-American, which is super-exciting for us,” mentioned Melges. “What’s impresses me probably the most is how good the staff environment is at ARC Workforce USA, it is actually inspiring. Everybody round you lifts you up and desires you to work actually onerous, even on the dangerous days.”

Whereas ARC Workforce USA was a dominant power on the PR2’s beginning strains, Race 6 is one which the staff’s coaches and sailors can be finding out throughout their upcoming winter residence on the staff’s Pensacola, Florida, base. ARC Workforce USA nailed the beginning and was in competition for the primary leg, earlier than a troublesome first gate rounding depressed their leaderboard standing. The staff fought for each racecourse meter, however they had been out of the hunt by Leg 6, which took the fleet throughout the ending line.

“We attempt to win each race,” mentioned Learn, noting that there was no rigidity between the staff’s aggressive nature and their technique of utilizing the PR2 as an intensive coaching camp. “We use each single lesson in each race to our benefit, seeking to the longer term.”

These classes translated to hometown pleasure at Sail Newport’s watch events, the place American followers rallied early every morning, regardless of a growling Nor’easter that is been pounding New England, to assist their staff. This was particularly evident right this moment, after the staff landed in final place in Race 7, solely to bounce again with a robust third-place end within the ultimate fleet race.

Queue the hometown cheers.

Whereas factors from Might’s PR1, which ARC Workforce USA did not compete at, and this weekend’s PR2 do not translate to any benefits come the beginning of subsequent spring’s Louis Vuitton Cup, Melges described the PR2 as an important occasion—and alternative—for the staff.

“It is actually vital for us to take the teachings from this weekend again to Pensacola over the winter, actually research, and be sure that, after we get again to Naples subsequent spring and summer season, we’re able to go,” Melges mentioned.

Whereas the staff loved good first outing, Learn, who’s Cup veteran, was clear that ARC Workforce is enjoying the lengthy recreation when it comes to their ambitions to carry the America’s Cup residence.

“We’re in an extremely distinctive place the place our principals have mentioned, ‘we’ll be doing this for some time’,” he mentioned, noting that traditionally, most Cup groups are extra centered on securing their subsequent tranche of funding than contemplating their multi-Cup finish recreation strikes.

“It is an important drawback to have, and in addition simply extra to place below the microscope to determine how it is going to occur effectively for the long run.”

ARC Workforce USA congratulates Luna Rossa on their regatta win on the PR2, and the American-flagged staff seems ahead to assembly all competing groups once more this spring at the beginning of the Louis Vuitton Cup.