Women Will Compete in 38th America's Cup
New tournament regulations require all teams to include at least one woman on the crew for the July 2027 event.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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The 38th America's Cup, scheduled for July 2027 in Italy, will mandate that every competing team includes at least one woman on its crew. This shift aims to normalize participation in the 175-year-old sailing competition.
Why it matters
Technological advancements, including hydraulic pressure systems and computer-assisted sail adjustments, have reduced the historical reliance on brute strength in competitive sailing. Regulations were updated to address industry gender disparities following reports of systemic sexism.
The 175-year-old competition has mandated female participation for the 38th edition. Modern AC40 and AC75 vessels now feature computer-aided controls and hydraulics, reducing physical force requirements for sail adjustments.
The players
Louisa Nordstrom
She is a sailor currently training to compete in next year's America's Cup.
The Magenta Project
This organization advocates for gender equality in sailing and conducted the survey regarding sexism in the sport.
11th Hour Racing
This group focuses on sustainability and equity in the sailing industry and contributed to the gender participation survey.
World Sailing
This is the international federation for the sport of sailing that oversees global competition standards.
The details
Sailors now operate high-performance vessels from within an enclosed hull cabin, using digital interfaces to manage hydraulic lines that lift sails. This design allows for more inclusive crew configurations compared to the traditional manual labor required in the 1995 qualifier era.
Timeline
1995: The Mighty Mary yacht competed in the America's Cup qualifiers.
2024: The Women's America's Cup was launched as a standalone event.
September 2026: Preliminary regattas are scheduled to be held in Naples.
July 2027: The 38th America's Cup is scheduled to occur in Italy.
Culture Shift
This mandate signals a move away from sailing's history as an exclusively male-dominated physical contest. It reflects broader societal shifts toward gender-inclusive standards in professional athletics by replacing old physical barriers with technology-aided access.
For fans and aspiring athletes, this change standardizes the path for women to compete at the highest level of the sport. Future sailing fans can expect to see more diverse crews, potentially opening new training pipelines for female sailors worldwide.
The takeaway
The evolution of yachting technology has rendered traditional barriers to entry obsolete, allowing for a more diverse field of competitors. This institutional change encourages a new generation of female athletes to pursue professional sailing careers.
Further reading
Learn more about the global efforts to improve representation in Women’s Issues.
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