GB1 performance improves as all eyes focus on AC38
by GB1 28 Sep 07:08 AEST
25-27 September 2026
Race Day 3 of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup Preliminary Regatta © Athena Sports Group
GB1 delivered its strongest racing of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples, battling at the front of the fleet to secure two fourth-place finishes on the final day.
The Naples Preliminary Regatta saw the America's Cup teams go head-to-head in one-design AC40 fleet racing, providing valuable competition as teams continue their preparations for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup in 2027.
On the final day racing was delayed by around an hour as the wind transitioned before the AC40 fleet eventually got under way for Race 7. After an action-packed but frustrating opening two days for the British Challenger, GB1 were determined to finish the regatta on a high and showed clear progress, making gains through the fleet and fighting amongst the leading boats.
GB1, helmed by Dylan Fletcher MBE and Ben Cornish, with Bleddyn Mon and Andrea Tesei trimming, made a strong start to Race 7 and were second off the line before dropping back to eighth in the tightly packed fleet.
The British crew fought their way back into contention, making gains upwind on the favoured side of the course. The comeback took GB1 into fourth place, where they crossed the finish line behind home team Luna Rossa 1: Principal Team, Emirates Team New Zealand and France's La Roche-Posay Racing Team.
GB1 carried that momentum into Race 8, with the British crew again capitalising on the favoured right-hand side of the course and fighting amongst the leading boats. GB1 went on to secure another fourth place, completing its strongest day of results at the Naples Preliminary Regatta.
The performance marked another step forward for the British Challenger following a challenging build-up to the regatta, which saw the team work around the clock to repair its AC40 after Tuesday's training incident. That was followed by further foil damage on day two of racing, which hindered the team's performance.
With the Preliminary Regatta complete, GB1's focus now returns to its wider AC75 programme and preparations for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, which will take place on the same waters in Naples in 2027.
GB1 helm Dylan Fletcher MBE said: "Right now, it's a painful result. Today was about finishing on a high, and it feels like we had a good day and came very close to having a great day. We were fighting at the front, making gains around the course, and that's a positive way to finish the regatta.
"The biggest takeaway for us is just how valuable time on the water is. We haven't spent as much time racing the AC40 as some of the other teams, and at this level those hours make a difference.
"Our strategy has always been focused on the bigger picture. Everything we've done in the AC40 has been about learning and improving our AC75 performance.
"A huge thank you to the whole team for all the hard work in the build-up to this event and throughout the challenges we've faced this week. We've taken a huge amount from racing here in Naples, but our focus is firmly on the America's Cup and getting our race boat on the water later this year."