Britain’s America’s Cup team reveals new ‘GB1’ identity and names helm
The new GB1 identity has been developed around British sailing references
Britain’s America’s Cup Team, representing Challenger of Record Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd, has introduced the ‘GB1’ identity as its new team name and identity.
GB1 replaces the Athena Racing name used by the British America’s Cup team founded by Ben Ainslie in 2014. The team has competed in the past three America’s Cups. Alongside the identity update, the team confirmed that Dylan Fletcher will serve as helm for the 38th America’s Cup — marking his second campaign in the event.
Fletcher won Olympic gold and is the current SailGP Champion. In 2024, he competed in the 37th America’s Cup Match in Barcelona as co-helm with Ainslie, when the British team won the Challenger Selection Series and reached the America’s Cup Match for the first time in 60 years.
Ainslie, team principal for GB1, says: “GB1 is delighted to secure Dylan as our helm for AC38. He has worked extremely hard to earn the seat, and his results on the water don’t lie. Olympic and SailGP champion, and an America’s Cup finalist all in the space of five years, these are no mean feats and highlight his absolute dedication to performance on the water.”
Fletcher adds: “I’m buzzing to be back in the America’s Cup with the British Challenger. Reaching the final last time out was a great achievement for the team, but getting so close drives us on even more. I know how committed the whole organisation is to winning the cup for Britain. There is a huge amount of work to do, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
The new GB1 identity has been developed around British sailing references and racing conventions, with a design that uses red, white and blue colours associated with the Union Jack. The GB1 name references common shorthand used in racing environments and is supported by an icon informed by international maritime signal flags.
Ian Walker, CEO of GB1, says: “Today will be a landmark moment to have all the ACP teams together in the host venue, setting the tone of collaboration to make AC38 the biggest event in the competition’s history and provide the continuity to build from there. However, on the water we know the competition will be as fierce as ever, and the Bay of Naples is going to be a spectacular arena for these incredible racing machines. The countdown is on.”
Dates for AC38 confirmed
The 38th America’s Cup Match will begin on 10 July 2027, from Naples, and is expected to conclude by the following weekend.
The winner of the Challenger Selection Series will earn the right to race the Defender. This follows confirmation that the first preliminary regatta of AC38 will take place in Cagliari from 21 to 24 May 2026, using AC40 race boats.
The British team also restated its intention to maintain a development pathway for British sailors progressing into the America’s Cup and other high-performance sailing programmes.
During the Naples event, Hannah Mills, team principal of the Athena Pathway Programme and helm of the Women’s America’s Cup Team, formally opened the application process for the British Youth Team.
Mills says: “The 38th America’s Cup will be the first time women will race on every competing boat, which is a hugely important moment for our sport. It will create a pathway of equality for future generations of sailors, something we have championed through the Athena Pathway over the last five years. The return of the women’s and youth competitions is equally significant, providing opportunities to inspire and develop the next generation and ensuring that the top end of our sport is inclusive and forward-focused.”
Tension on the road to the 38th America’s Cup
In October 2025, American Magic confirmed it will not compete in the 38th America’s Cup: the latest development in a tumultuous start to the campaign.
In April 2025, Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Britannia team confirmed it would not compete, following the conclusion of a ‘protracted negotiation’ with Athena Racing – the team of Ineos’ former skipper Sir Ben Ainslie, who was dropped from Ineos in January 2025.
Just a week later, Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing announced it was terminating its America’s Cup campaign due to “serious concerns about the administration and governance of the cup by the defender, Team New Zealand.”
In May 2025, Alinghi Red Bull Racing issued a statement raising concerns about whether a fair sporting protocol was being negotiated for the 38th America’s Cup. The statement accused both Team New Zealand and the Italian government of lacking transparency regarding the agreement to use Naples as the host venue and of announcing the host city prematurely before a fair protocol was agreed with the challengers.
American Magic swiftly weighed in, saying it had found itself at a “crossroads” but supported Alinghi Red Bull in its concerns.
The Naples event marked the first time the five founding teams of the new America’s Cup Partnership — formed in the wake of the turmoil — have appeared together since forming the organisation. These teams are Emirates Team New Zealand, GB1, Luna Rossa, Tudor Team Alinghi and K-Challenge. The partnership establishes a shared governance and commercial framework for the event.
According to the organisers, it is the first time in the competition’s 175-year history that competing teams have agreed to jointly manage the event on a more permanent basis, including commercial arrangements and fan engagement.
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