Tudor Team Alinghi presents sailing crew for the 38th America’s Cup preliminary regatta in Sardinia.
Sailing in Barcelona with its two AC40s, Tudor Team Alinghi today unveiled the new livery of its boats and announced the crew who will be present in the first event of the 38th America’s Cup: the preliminary regatta in Cagliari, Sardinia, starting on May 21.
Barcelona, April 23, 2026 - At the end of December 2025, Tudor Team Alinghi confirmed its participation in the 38th America’s Cup, bringing long awaited clarity to its future in the competition. Since then, the team has kept a low profile publicly while working intensively behind the scenes, growing from seven people to around 50 team members today.
With its boats based in Barcelona, the team has begun its on-water preparation on the waters that hosted the last America’s Cup. While the sailing team is not yet final – the AC40 requires fewer sailors on board than the AC75 racing yacht – the Swiss challenger is actively testing different sailor configurations.
Significantly refreshed since the last Cup, partly due to rule changes, the Team has now identified the six sailors who will be in Sardinia for the opening regatta of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup. The crew is led by Olympic and multiple world champion Paul Goodison (GBR), Skipper and Helmsman, and consists of (in alphabetical order):
Nathalie Brugger (SUI) – Helmswoman in the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup in 2024 with Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
Phil Robertson (NZL) – Helmsman; previously coach of the team during the 37th America’s Cup campaign.
Nicolas Rolaz (SUI) – Trimmer; the youngest Team Member, preparing for his second America’s Cup.
Pietro Sibello (ITA) – Trimmer; Head Coach during the last campaign, now eligible as a national sailor for the current event under the rules.
Jason Waterhouse (AUS) – Helmsman/Trimmer, as well with the coaching team during the 37th America’s Cup.
“We’ve been sailing in this line‑up for only a week,” says Dave Endean, Team Director Technical & Sailing, who has already been involved in six America’s Cup campaigns. “We are rebuilding the team by combining highly experienced sailors with younger talent. We see ourselves as playing catch-up and know there is a lot of hard work ahead, but that is exactly what motivates us.”
Skipper Paul Goodison adds: “Even though we are still a new crew together, I have been impressed by how quickly strong connections have formed on board. We are now eager to line up against the other teams and measure ourselves on the racecourse.”
Following the current training block in Barcelona, the team will pack up and head to Italy, where it will regroup on the water in mid‑May in Sardinia to finalise its preparation for the preliminary regatta in Cagliari.
ABOUT TUDOR TEAM ALINGHI
Founded in 1994 by Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi is a Swiss competitive sailing team that made history in 2003 by becoming the first challenger to win the America’s Cup at its debut and remains the only European team ever to lift the world’s oldest sporting trophy. Four years later, the team successfully defended the title as host of the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia in 2007. Sailing under the flag of the Société Nautique de Genève and supported by Swiss watch brand TUDOR and UBS, the team now competes as TUDOR Team Alinghi and is currently pursuing its fifth America’s Cup campaign, with its sights firmly set on the 38th edition, scheduled to take place in Naples in spring–summer 2027.