ARC Team USA today announced a significant new partnership with CODE-ZERO, which becomes the Official Technical Apparel and Teamwear Supplier of the U.S. challenger for the 38th America’s Cup.
Effective immediately, CODE-ZERO will outfit ARC Team USA with teamwear for athletes and personnel onshore, with the partnership expanding ahead of next year’s America’s Cup to include high-performance technical apparel for the sailing team on the water.
The partnership is already being put into action, with ARC Team USA wearing its new CODE-ZERO kit during the team’s final training camp in Naples this month. The camp represents another important step in the team’s preparations ahead of the preliminary regatta of the 38th America’s Cup later in September (24th–27th), when ARC Team USA will line up against its fellow challengers in a competitive setting for the first time.
Founded by passionate sailor Marc Blees, CODE-ZERO has deep roots in the sport and has built a strong reputation within the sailing community for combining proven technical performance with distinctive, contemporary design.
The partnership marks CODE-ZERO’s first entry into the America’s Cup and brings together two organizations with a shared passion for innovation, breaking new ground and technical performance. For CODE-ZERO, aligning with a new U.S. challenger at the beginning of its America’s Cup journey represents an opportunity to bring its technical expertise to one of the most demanding environments in sailing while adding a prestigious new team to its growing sporting portfolio.
“From the outset, we’ve been very deliberate about building a group of partners around ARC Team USA who share our ambition and can genuinely add something to what we’re creating. CODE-ZERO has an outstanding reputation within sailing, combining proven technical performance with a really strong sense of style, and Marc’s personal passion for the sport makes this partnership feel particularly authentic.
A crucial part of our ambition with ARC Team USA is to bring fans on the journey with us and broaden the appeal of sailing and the America’s Cup to new audiences. CODE-ZERO understands how great design and a strong team identity can help us do exactly that.”
Chris Welch
Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman of ARC Team USA
“Sailing has always been a huge part of my life, so to bring CODE-ZERO back into the America’s Cup with ARC Team USA is incredibly exciting. This is a team with real ambition and energy, and we’re looking forward to combining our experience and technical expertise with their drive to perform at the very highest level. Just as importantly, we want to create something that fans will be proud to wear and that helps them feel part of the team and its journey.”
Marc Bees
Founder of CODE-ZERO
The announcement comes during a period of significant momentum for ARC Team USA as preparations accelerate toward the 38th America’s Cup in Naples in 2027.
Following the formation of the new U.S. challenger earlier this year, ARC Team USA has continued to build out its sailing, technical and operational teams while establishing a growing portfolio of partners committed to supporting the campaign and its longer-term ambitions for American sailing.
With the final training camp now underway and the team’s first competitive racing just weeks away, the partnership with CODE-ZERO marks another milestone as ARC Team USA moves into the next phase of its journey toward AC38.