America’s Cup in Naples: Coast Guard Deploys 150 Personnel and 28 Vessels for Safety at Sea

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# America’s Cup in Naples: Coast Guard Deploys 150 Personnel and 28 Vessels for Safety at Sea

A major operation across the Gulf ensured racing safety while allowing the Port of Naples to continue its regular maritime activities

Behind the spectacular sight of America’s Cup yachts racing across the Gulf of Naples was a complex maritime safety operation.

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The **Naples Coast Guard** played a central role, managing the racecourse, spectator boats and commercial maritime traffic while ensuring that one of Italy's major ports could continue operating.

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Commander **Vincenzo Zagarola**, speaking aboard the SAR vessel CP809, outlined the measures introduced by the Harbour Master's Office for the preliminary races and the preparations already under way for the much larger 2027 event.

Around 150 personnel and 28 vessels

The safety operation involved approximately **150 Coast Guard personnel and 28 naval units**.

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Additional vessels arrived from other Italian regions, while an aircraft from the Catania Coast Guard supported operations from the air.

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The Coast Guard's work extended far beyond the actual racing hours.

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Operations began early in the morning with preparations for the race area and continued after racing had finished, with further checks to ensure that maritime activities had taken place according to the established safety measures.

A dedicated Race Area across the Gulf

A large **Race Area** was established in the Gulf of Naples, extending approximately from Castel dell'Ovo towards Posillipo.

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Within this wider controlled area, a dedicated **racecourse** was created for the high-speed sailing competition.

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The preliminary races featured the **AC40** yachts, while the larger **AC75** boats will take centre stage during the 2027 America’s Cup.

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Special measures were also introduced near the entrance to the Port of Naples and coordinated with shipping companies to maintain safe navigation.

The Port remained operational

One of the main challenges was ensuring that the sailing competition did not bring normal port operations to a halt.

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Passenger services, ferries, cruise ships and commercial maritime activities continued throughout the event.

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Even complex operations were maintained, including **ship-to-ship LNG refuelling** for cruise vessels.

Naples tests AIS Virtual AtoN technology

The preliminary regatta also provided an opportunity to test new maritime technology.

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The Coast Guard introduced **AIS Virtual AtoN**, virtual aids to navigation that can be detected by the electronic navigation systems used aboard professional vessels.

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According to the Coast Guard, the technology was tested in Italy for the first time during the America’s Cup event in Naples.

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The experience will also contribute to preparations for 2027, allowing maritime authorities to further develop their procedures and technology ahead of the main competition.

A major test ahead of 2027

For the Coast Guard, the September regatta was therefore more than an individual sporting event.

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It served as an operational test ahead of the extended programme expected for the **2027 America’s Cup**, when the Gulf of Naples will once again become one of the focal points of international sailing.

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Maritime safety, traffic management and technological innovation will all play essential roles in ensuring that competitors can race and spectators can enjoy the event safely.

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**Behind the spectacle of the America’s Cup, Naples is already building the maritime operation required for the challenge of 2027.**

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