The 2027 Admiral’s Cup will offer teams with fewer professional sailors a trophy of their own while they compete for the overall title. RORC’s new Corinthian Cup sets separate crew limits for the two boats: up to four World Sailing Group 3 sailors in AC1 and three in AC2, according to the organizer’s announcement.
The distinction matters when putting a campaign together. An eligible crew can include professionals, and the award is not restricted to young sailors. RORC says the winning team will be the eligible pair of boats with the lowest combined IRC score across the series.
For owners and team managers, eligibility therefore needs checking on each boat. World Sailing’s categorisation system provides the formal framework, with sailors responsible for applying and supplying the information needed to determine their category. Calling a campaign “amateur” is no substitute for that process.
The wider sporting challenge remains substantial. In its 2027 event announcement, RORC retains double points for the short offshore race and triple points for the Rolex Fastnet Race; neither offshore race can be discarded. That weighting gives preparation for the offshore legs particular importance alongside the inshore racing.
The event runs from July 13 to 28, 2027, with the Fastnet concluding the series. Prospective teams should consult the official notice board for the full Notice of Race and subsequent amendments before committing their crew lists.
Related reading: SailUniverse’s 2023 Fastnet fleet preview — archive coverage of family campaigns and doublehanded entries.