Britain’s America’s Cup challenge has entered a new phase with the unveiling of a refreshed team identity and the confirmation of Olympic gold medallist Dylan Fletcher as helm for the 38th America’s Cup.
The team, formerly known as Athena Racing, will now compete under the name GB1, continuing its role as Challenger of Record representing the Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd. The announcement was made in Naples, Italy, during a gathering of the five founding teams of the newly formed America’s Cup Partnership (ACP).
Read More/Breaking the chains: How the America’s Cup finally agreed to moderniseFletcher, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo and is the current SailGP champion, returns to the America’s Cup for a second campaign. He previously co-helmed the British entry alongside Sir Ben Ainslie at the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, where the team made history by becoming the first British challenger in 60 years to reach the Match, and the first ever to win the Challenger Selection Series.
Sir Ben Ainslie, team principal of GB1, said Fletcher’s appointment reflected his recent performance record across multiple elite circuits: “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 described the return as an opportunity to build on the momentum generated in Barcelona. He commented: “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 is intended to signal both continuity and evolution for the British challenge. Drawing on traditional national colours and maritime references, the branding combines Union Jack-inspired red, white and blue with angular graphic elements intended to convey speed and technical precision. The team name adopts the shorthand language of international racing, positioning GB1 as a modern, performance-led British entry.
The Naples event also marked a significant moment for the America’s Cup itself, bringing together Emirates Team New Zealand, GB1, Luna Rossa, Alinghi Red Bull Racing and K-Challenge for the first time since agreeing to the America’s Cup Partnership. The ACP introduces a shared governance and commercial framework for the competition, representing the first such structure in the Cup’s 175-year history.
GB1 CEO Ian Walker described the meeting as a milestone in setting the tone for collaboration off the water, while emphasising that competition on the racecourse would remain uncompromising. Naples will host the 38th America’s Cup, with the Bay of Naples expected to provide a high-profile and technically demanding venue for the AC75 fleet.
America’s Cup Partnership is expected to confirm the dates of the America’s Cup Match imminently. The first on-water event of the new cycle has already been announced, with a preliminary regatta scheduled for 21-24 May 2026 in Cagliari, using AC40 race boats.
Alongside the senior campaign, the British team reaffirmed its commitment to developing future talent through the Athena Pathway Programme. In Naples, Hannah Mills officially opened applications for the British Youth America’s Cup team. Mills, who also leads the Women’s America’s Cup programme, highlighted the significance of AC38 as the first edition in which women will race on every competing boat, alongside the return of dedicated women’s and youth competitions.
GB1 will contest its fourth consecutive America’s Cup when racing begins in Naples, aiming to convert recent breakthrough results into a first outright victory for Britain.