The British America’s Cup Challenger, GB1, has announced a new partnership with PhysicsX as its Official AI Platform Partner as the team reignites its campaign for the 38th America’s Cup, returning to the water in Italy with new sailor signings on board.

PhysicsX will deploy its engineering AI platform to help accelerate engineering insight and support system-level optimisation across the campaign. The collaboration will enable the team to learn faster, explore a broader design space and enhance performance within the constraints of the America’s Cup Protocol.

GB1 Head of Design Nick Holroyd said the partnership will play an important role in supporting the team’s development programme.

“The scale and complexity of the engineering challenge in the America’s Cup means that the teams who can best integrate data, simulation and real-world performance will have a clear advantage,” Holroyd said.

“Partnering with PhysicsX allows our designers to build higher-fidelity models with lower data costs and quicker turnaround. The result is faster design iteration and greater insight into complex performance interactions, helping GB1 push the boundaries of performance.”

The announcement comes as GB1 officially reignites its challenge to win the world’s oldest sporting trophy, taking to the water in Cagliari, Sardinia for the first sailing sessions of its 38th America’s Cup campaign.

The team launched its one-design AC40 race boat earlier this week as part of its first Italian training camp ahead of the opening preliminary regatta of the 38th America’s Cup, which will take place in Cagliari from 21-24 May 2026.

Joining helm Dylan Fletcher MBE in the crew are two new signings, trimmers Bleddyn Mon and Ben Cornish, both of whom were part of the Louis Vuitton Cup-winning squad alongside Fletcher at the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024.

Welshman Mon and Devon-born Cornish bring seven America’s Cup campaigns between them, all with the British team, highlighting GB1’s commitment to continuity as it works towards its goal of winning the America’s Cup for Britain.

Mon, who once again takes on a dual role within the sailing squad and design team, said he was excited to rejoin the team at the start of the new America’s Cup cycle.

“It’s super exciting to be rejoining the team at the start of the journey under the America’s Cup Partnership, what makes the America’s Cup so unique is that it’s a real combination of sport and technology, where the sailing team and design teamwork hand in hand to push performance forward.” Mon said.

“That’s what excites me about this next America's Cup, the continuity element is huge, and the fact that teams will be able to continue progressing their designs from one Cup to the next.

Cornish echoed that excitement, adding: “The biggest motivation for me with the America's Cup is the history. The fact that we've never won it as a country is what makes me want to do it, to make that slice of history.”

The AC40 is the one-design foiling monohull used in the 37th America’s Cup preliminary regattas, as well as the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup competitions. Four sailors race on board the AC40s, two helms and two trimmers.

As part of GB1’s commitment to developing the next generation of high-performance athletes, two youth sailors from the team’s Athena Pathway Programme have also joined the training camp in Cagliari and are gaining experience on board the AC40.

GB1 Team Principal Sir Ben Ainslie said it was exciting to see the team back sailing together as preparations ramp up for the new campaign.

“It’s good to see the team back in action on the AC40 and getting used to the Cagliari conditions they’ll be racing in at the end of May,” Ainslie said.

“The crew have racked up a good few training hours now and it’s great to have both new and old faces on board, with our Athena Pathway triallists joining the training camp.

“We’re proud to welcome Bleddyn Mon and Ben Cornish back into the fold. They strengthen the team both on and off the water with their exceptional sailing skills, invaluable data analysis experience and strong focus on supporting the wider team.”

GB1 will complete a number of sailing camps in Cagliari in the coming months as preparations continue for the opening preliminary regatta of the 38th America’s Cup in May.