Eye on the Prize: The Contenders Chasing Admiral's Cup History
by Cyclops Marine 21 Jul 19:07 UTC
17 July - 1 August 2025
Sunrise during the RORC Caribbean 600 © Tim Wright /
www.photoaction.com
For over half a century, the Admiral's Cup was considered the world championship of offshore racing. And then, in 2003, it was gone.
Now, after a 22-year absence, the Cup is back. But it returns to a sport transformed. The yachts are lighter, faster, and more exacting than ever. Innovations that once belonged only to America's Cup campaigns - from structured luffs to wireless load sensors - are now standard. The stakes haven't changed, but the pace has. And the margin for error has never been smaller.
This year, 15 international teams will race under a unique two-boat format - one larger yacht (AC1), one smaller (AC2) - taking on a mix of inshore battles and offshore passages that culminate in the ultimate test: the Rolex Fastnet Race.
So, who's ready to meet the moment? Let's take a closer look at some of the yachts set for the Admiral's Cup's great revival and some of the Cyclops tech they're using onboard.
Stand-Out Teams
Yacht Club de Monaco: Jolt 3 & 6
Peter Harrison's Jolt campaign brings a united front to the Admiral's Cup, fielding two boats under the Yacht Club de Monaco burgee. Jolt 3 (TP52), comes with years of inshore & offshore experience and plenty of silverware. While Jolt 6, the rechristened Carkeek 40 Rebellion, joins the fray in AC2. Optimised for versatility, Jolt's small boat contender has been adapted specifically for the campaign. Jolt 3 has very recent good memories off the coast of the Isle of Wight, coming fresh from lifting the Gold Roman Bowl in the Round the Island Race.
Eye on the tech:
Across both Jolt boats, the team is equipped with smartlink wireless load sensors for soft lines, Wireless Load Pins, and smarttoggle sensors for non structural furlers.
YCCS: Django WR51 & Django JPK
Few teams bring as much contrast and character to the line-up as Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's Django pairing for YCCS. In AC1, Django WR51 - a newly launched Wallyrocket - offers cutting-edge hull design and a bold new take on performance. She's paired with Django JPK, a reliable JPK 11.80 ready to thrive in the offshore legs. Together, the duo is built in equal parts for speed and resilience.
Eye on the tech:
Django WR51 runs with a smart
sensor, while Django JPK is fitted with a Cyclops forestay Load Pin.
KSSS: Rán & Nola
Niklas Zennström's Rán and Taavet Hinrikus's Nola bring serious pedigree to the Admiral's Cup, joining forces under the Baltic Sea Team banner and sailing for the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS). Rán, a Carkeek CF 520, comes in as one of the fastest boats in the fleet and showed early form with a second-place finish at the Pre-Admiral's Cup Regatta. Nola, a refined MAT 1220, represents Estonia with a methodical approach and a platform that's well tuned for IRC racing.
Eye on the tech:
Nola was launched with a 5/8" smarttune sensor in 2024 and has been using live load data since day one - now optimising her for her toughest challenge yet. Rán has also utilised Cyclops data over a number of years.
Stand Out Yachts
Sunrise IV
Sunrise has earned the right to be taken seriously. Led by Tom Kneen, the team famously took overall honours in the 2021 Fastnet and now brings a fresh platform to the Admiral's Cup in the form of Sunrise IV - a newly launched JPK 1180, purpose-built for this campaign. Racing under the Royal Irish Yacht Club burgee, the new Sunrise blends amateur spirit with elite-level execution. If the breeze kicks in, they'll relish the chaos.
Eye on the tech:
Sunrise uses Cyclops load pins on the forestay and bobstay, helping the team dial in their new yacht — first in training, then when the stakes are higher.
Red Bandit
Carl-Peter Forster's Red Bandit is no stranger to massive RORC wins - winning overall in the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Representing the Bayerischer Yacht-Club, this TP52 campaign has earned its stripes with a mix of sharp tactics and relentless consistency. Backed by a tight German crew, Red Bandit is a serious threat.
Eye on the tech:
Red Bandit is equipped with a smartlink 5t wireless load sensor from Cyclops for monitoring soft lines.
Imagine
Another German contender, Imagine is a seasoned TP52 owned by Holger Streckenbach and representing Regatta Verein Greifswald. Quietly competitive and well-prepared, she brings a steady hand to the AC1 fleet.
Imagine was one of the very first yachts to try smarthttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/MV0atBP0p8c - Cyclops' solution for optimising batten compression.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MV0atBP0p8c
Callisto
James Murray's Callisto has been carefully upgraded from her GP42 roots for offshore range - and now lines up in AC2 under the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron burgee. Nimble, reliable, and dialled in across a range of conditions, she's well-positioned to seize the challenge.
Eye on the tech:
Callisto is equipped with a smartlink 2t sensor on the jib tack, giving the team live trim data to fine-tune headsail performance.
Teasing Machine
A likely suspect for overall victory in any offshore race she enters, Eric de Turckenheim's NMYD 54 is a powerhouse of offshore racing, with victories in the Middle Sea Race, Transatlantic Race, and a podium-packed career. She now anchors the AC1 role flying the flag for Yacht Club de France.
Eye on the tech:
Teasing Machine uses a 2t smartlink sensor from Cyclops.
GARM
JPK 11.80 Garm, owned by Per Roman, steps into the AC2 slot for RORC RED. With solid offshore credentials and a platform known for reliability in rough water, Garm forms the other half of the British challenge alongside Ino Noir.
Eye on the tech:
Garm is equipped with a smarttune 5/8" from Cyclops Marine, the ultimate tool for hitting optimal settings upwind.
From the America's Cup, right through to weekend dinghy sailing, Cyclops wireless load sensors have transformed competitive sailing. Easily installed, providing intuitive load data via onboard displays and mobile app, they allow sailors to hit fast, repeatable settings - empowering them to win regattas and move up the fleet.
Visit the Cyclops website or speak to an expert to find the sensor for your boat.