2025 Admiral’s Cup Update: Exceptional Boats, Elite Competition
by Louay Habib / RORC 2 Dec 07:06 PST
17 July – 1 August 2025
Teams preparing for the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Admiral’s Cup next summer © Matthew Dickens / Imagecomms
The countdown has begun. In under eight months, the prestigious Admiral’s Cup, organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), will make its highly anticipated return.
Teams from around the globe are assembling their top talent, aware that careful planning and strategic preparation are crucial for gaining the competitive advantage in this storied event.
Crews are already starting to gear up, with many planning to begin training and racing in the Solent as early as April 2025. This advanced preparation paves the way for an assembly of exceptional boats and elite competition in UK waters. The Royal Ocean Racing Club has officially received entries from esteemed clubs worldwide, with more teams expected to be announced soon.
Elite Racing Powerhouses
Representing: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), defenders of the America’s Cup, will feature overall 2023 Rolex Fastnet Winner Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro and James Murray’s GP42 Callisto (formerly Dark ‘N’ Stormy).
Gillian Williams, Commodore of RNZYS, stated: “This event represents the pinnacle of international sailing, and we believe our team’s skills and determination will serve them well and make our members proud.”
James Murray, skipper of Callisto, confirms that the yacht is set to arrive in the Solent in April 2025 and plans to race under the RNZYS burgee in the 230-mile Myth of Malham Race in May and inshore for the GBR IRC National Championships in Cowes in June.
“The Admiral’s Cup is a legendary event in offshore sailing,” remarked James Murray. “With its combination of inshore, coastal, and offshore racing, the format offers a tremendous challenge for boat, crew, and seamanship. When we learned RORC was reviving the Admiral’s Cup after almost 25 years, it became our primary focus for 2025.”
Representing: Royal Ocean Racing Club
As previously reported, racing under the Royal Ocean Racing Club burgee as RORC Red will be James Neville’s Carkeek 45 Ino Noir and Per Roman’s JPK 1180 Garm. This esteemed pair may hold one of the lowest IRC Ratings in both Admiral’s Cup IRC Classes, which could offer a distinct advantage in specific weather conditions.
Racing for the Royal Ocean Racing Club as Team RORC White are two established successful boats under new ownership; Jon Desmond’s PAC52 Final Final (RORC Transatlantic Race champion as Warrior Won) and Chris Frost’s Carkeek 42 Amp-Lifi (FAST40+ champion as Girls on Film).
Jon Desmond confirms that Final Final’s preparatory schedule for the Admiral’s Cup will include the 2025 RORC Caribbean 600 and the West-East Transatlantic Race in June.
“With hopes that the Admiral’s Cup will reach the same significance it once held, it will be incredible to participate in its revival,” remarked Jon Desmond. “Representing RORC alongside our teammate Amp-Lifi is an exciting prospect for 2025 and beyond,” concluded Desmond.
Representing: Yacht Club de France
From the Yacht Club de France, Eric de Turckheim’s NM54 Teasing Machine and Philippe Frantz’s NM43 Albator comprise an impressive French team with a solid record in high-level racing. Teasing Machine has twice won the RORC Transatlantic Race overall, and also triumphed in the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Representing: New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) will field Botin 56 Black Pearl, helmed by Stefan Jentzsch, alongside Ker 43 Abracadabra, skippered by the father-son duo Donald Thinschmidt Jr & Snr.
Black Pearl’s project manager and navigator, Marc Lagesse, confirms that the crew features a mix of ocean racing, America’s Cup, and Olympic sailors from Germany, Italy, England, Ireland, and South Africa.
“In preparation for the Admiral’s Cup, Black Pearl plans to take part in all relevant RORC offshore races and the inshore GBR IRC Nationals. Competing for this iconic trophy is a privilege. We eagerly look forward to representing the NYYC,” concluded Lagesse.
Past, Present and Future – Youth in the Admiral’s Cup
Representing: Royal Maas Yacht Club
The Dutch Offshore Sailing Team comprises Ker 46 ROST Van Uden, helmed by Gerd-Jan Poortman, and the Baraka Family’s Ker 43 Baraka GP. Poortman, part of the victorious Dutch team in the 1999 Admiral’s Cup, confirms that the 2025 team plans to participate in the RORC Easter Challenge, GBR IRC Nationals, Myth of Malham Race, North Sea Regatta, including Vuurschepen Race, and the North Sea Race.
“As always, there will be a skilled youth team on Van Uden from the Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team,” noted Poortman. “Both crews on Baraka and Van Uden are truly excited about the Admiral’s Cup. The North of Europe needs a high-level offshore grand prix event.”
Representing: Bayersiche Yacht-Club
The Bayersiche Yachtclub will have Carl-Peter Forster’s TP52 Red Bandit and Dirk Clasen’s Humphreys 39 Ginkgo in competition. Red Bandit won the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall under IRC, while Ginkgo secured third in class during the 2024 Roschier Baltic Sea Race.
Red Bandit is already in the Solent, aiming to race in the RORC Easter Challenge, Cervantes Trophy, Myth of Malham, GBR IRC Nationals, and Morgan Cup.
“It’s thrilling to participate in such a renowned event in the waters where yacht sailing began,” stated Carl-Peter Forster of Red Bandit. “Our young team from our Bavarian lake is excited to compete against some of the best offshore sailing teams in the world – we hope the water isn’t too cold!” smiled Forster.
Additionally, the TP52 Imagine, owned by the Streckenbach family, and Walter Watermann’s GP42 X-Day will race, primarily with youth sailors. X-Day skipper Lars Hueckstaedt confirmed that the team will compete in the Easter Challenge in April 2025, followed by several races.
“Germany has a rich history in the Admiral’s Cup,” remarked Lars Hueckstaedt. “Every sailor growing up in Germany knows about the ‘golden times’ of the Admiral’s Cup. It would be regrettable not to compete and only watch the events through media.”
The 2025 Admiral’s Cup will be hosted at the fully modernized RORC Cowes Clubhouse, coinciding with a robust social program for RORC’s centenary celebrations. The inshore and offshore race courses will cover the Solent, the English Channel, culminating in the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Entry list here
For further information on the 2025 Admiral’s Cup: admiralscup.rorc.org
