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America’s Cup faces Legal Challenge Over Foiling Yachts
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(NEW YORK, February 7, 2026) – A former America’s Cup syndicate founder is preparing legal action against the current holder of the trophy, alleging that the modern, foiling yachts violate the rules governing the historic race as outlined in the Deed of Gift.
julian Everitt, a designer and former editor of Seahorse magazine, announced his intention too challenge the validity of the current America’s Cup format, arguing that it fundamentally departs from the principles established in the 170-year-old document that governs the competition.
- Julian Everitt intends to file a legal challenge in New York courts, claiming the current America’s Cup violates the Deed of Gift.
- The core of the argument centers on the claim that foiling yachts do not meet minimum buoyancy requirements and rely on prohibited energy storage.
- Everitt, a veteran of multiple America’s Cup campaigns, proposes a return to a monohull class wiht specific limitations on size, power, and course location.
Everitt’s challenge centers on the Deed of Donation, often referred to as the Deed of Gift, which outlines the rules for the America’s Cup. He was involved in the 1995 challenge as a designer for Team New Zealand, and later founded his own syndicate, Shosholoza. From 1999 to 2007, he and his partner restored four International America’s Cup Class (IACC) yachts and hosted a series of vintage challenges.
“I have spent my life within the america’s Cup ecosystem – as a sailor, founder of the syndicate and custodian of its history,” Everitt stated. “This is not theory. It is a lived experience.”
Proposed Solution: A Return to Monohulls
Everitt’s legal challenge will not only contest the current format but will also propose a solution: a new class of monohulls with a maximum waterline length of 90 feet,operated by approximately 30 crew members,with no engine,stored energy,or assisted control systems. He envisions races taking place on courses compliant with the Deed of Gift and within a 50-mile radius of the winning club.
“Not retro.Not nostalgic. Modern, but legal,” Everitt wrote. “A class that combines the majesty of the J-Class with the discipline of the IACC.”
Why It Matters
This legal challenge strikes at the heart of the America’s Cup’s identity. For over 170 years, the competition has been governed by the Deed of Gift, a legal document intended to ensure fair play and preserve the spirit of the race. Everitt’s argument suggests that the pursuit of speed and commercial viability has
