ARC Team USA Names Four Sailors for Naples Preliminary Regatta

The salt air of Naples hangs heavy over the harbor as ARC Team USA tightens its rigging. Four sailors step onto the deck of the AC40, their boots finding purchase on the carbon fiber surface. Lucas Calabrese and Harry Melges IV settle into the helm stations, their hands moving with practiced precision across the controls. Beside them, Hans Henken and Michael Menninger brace against the deck, ready for the first real test of their campaign. This is not just a training drill; it is the moment the new American challenger meets the fleet.

Riley Gibbs stands by as the reserve, a silent witness to the culmination of months of intense labor. The team has moved fast, assembling its design, technical, and operational groups in a matter of weeks. Now, the machinery of their ambition is visible in the water. The Preliminary Regatta begins September 24, a sharp deadline that cuts through the uncertainty of their rapid build. They are here to race, to learn, and to measure their speed against rivals who have spent years together.

Four Hands on the Wheel

The selection process was a crucible. Giles Scott, the sailing director, described the camp as a period of rising intensity where every sailor had to earn their place. The competition for the four spots was fierce, with the team demanding a high standard from a group that had only recently come together. Calabrese and Melges IV were chosen to take the helm, a decision that reflects their ability to manage the boat’s power and speed. Henken and Menninger complete the crew, providing the physical strength and tactical acuity needed for high-performance sailing.

Ken Read, the team’s CEO, acknowledged the gap in experience. Their rivals have been sailing together for years, while ARC Team USA has been building its culture for only months. This is a realistic assessment of their starting position. They are not arriving in Naples expecting to have all the answers. Instead, the goal is to race hard, absorb information, and understand where they stand in the fleet. The regatta serves as a benchmark, a clear measure of how far they have come and how much work remains.

Momentum Builds in the Bay

Beyond the water, the team’s foundation is solidifying. A strategic partnership with US Sailing aims to grow the audience for the America’s Cup in the United States. CODE-ZERO has become the official technical apparel supplier, providing the gear that allows these sailors to perform at their peak. These moves are part of a broader vision to return the America’s Cup to American shores. The team is building a long-term campaign, one that starts with the immediate task of mastering the AC40 in the bays of Naples.

The training camp provided the final piece of the puzzle. It allowed the group to develop communication, boat handling, and race processes under pressure. The standard continued to rise, with the competition for places serving as a motivator. Now, the focus shifts to the racecourse. The water will reveal the truth of their efforts. Every decision, every move, will be tested against the best in the world. ARC Team USA is ready to find out where they stand.

First Line, First Benchmark

As the starting line approaches, the noise of the harbor fades into the background. The only sound that matters is the creak of the rigging and the rush of water against the hull. The team is united in its purpose. They have come this far in a short time, and now they must prove their speed. The Preliminary Regatta is the first real test, a moment of truth for a team that has built its dream in a matter of months. America is back, and the race is on.