ARC Team USA and US Sailing announced a strategic partnership designed to bring sailing communities across the United States closer to the team’s America’s Cup campaign.
Working alongside US Sailing and the team’s home sailing club, Sail Newport, the partnership will focus on building a national fan-engagement program that gives yacht clubs, community sailing organizations, sailors and sailing fans tangible ways to connect with and support ARC Team USA.
At the center of the collaboration will be the development of an ARC Fan Network, creating a simple way for US Sailing-affiliated yacht clubs and community sailing organizations across the country to formally get behind the American challenger.
Participating organizations will be able to receive regular team and race-weekend updates, digital content and activation materials, while choosing from a range of opportunities to engage their members with the campaign.
ARC Team USA and US Sailing will also develop content designed to bring the America’s Cup into the clubhouse, helping fans better understand the racing, technology and people behind the campaign. Content could include race previews, team updates and explainers covering topics such as foiling, race starts, weather, strategy and the roles of different crew members.
A series of virtual Inside ARC sessions will provide US Sailing members and participating clubs with opportunities to hear directly from ARC Team USA sailors, coaches, designers and other members of the campaign. Clubs and members will also be able to submit questions through an Ask ARC feature for selected team members to answer.
The long-term ambition is to create a visible national community behind the pinnacle events in sailing and ARC Team USA, with yacht clubs across the United States actively following and supporting the team throughout the America’s Cup campaign.
The partnership is another demonstration of ARC Team USA’s commitment to delivering an impact that extends beyond the racecourse. While the team’s immediate focus is competing for the America’s Cup, it also wants to help create greater excitement, understanding and engagement around the sport in the United States.
As the home sailing club of ARC Team USA, Sail Newport has long played an important role in connecting people with sailing. The team’s new partnership with US Sailing complements that work by bringing together ARC Team USA, Sail Newport and US Sailing around a shared ambition to rally American sailing behind its America’s Cup challenger.
Ken Read, CEO of ARC Team USA, said: “This new era of the America’s Cup offers an opportunity for sailor and fan inclusion like never before. Our ambition is not limited to what happens on the racecourse. From day one, we have made it clear that ARC Team USA will build something that people across American sailing can feel part of.
“US Sailing has an extraordinary network of clubs, community sailing organizations, sailors and members across the country, and together we have an opportunity to bring those communities much closer to our America’s Cup campaign.
“We want people to understand what we’re doing, follow the racing, meet the people behind the team and feel like ARC Team USA is their team.
“Building a national community of sailing clubs, sailors and fans around ARC Team USA, and bringing them with us on the journey to Naples, will be incredibly powerful for our team and for the sport.”
Charlie Enright, CEO of US Sailing, said: “America’s Cup racing has an incredible ability to inspire sailors and bring people into our sport, and we want to make sure that excitement reaches sailing communities across the country.
“This partnership with ARC Team USA gives US Sailing members and yacht clubs and community sailing organizations a meaningful way to follow the campaign, learn more about the people and technology behind it, and rally around an American team.
“We’re excited to help bring the America’s Cup into clubhouses from coast to coast and build a community that feels connected to the journey all the way to Naples.”