The American entry is led by Ken Read, who is as good a skipper as one could hope to find. Read was behind the wheel for Dennis Conner during his last two Cup challenges in Auckland and also holds multiple world championships and offshore titles. He’s backed up by a crew that has found success in every discipline.

Cumulatively, the team boasts five Volvo or Whitbread wins and 20 America’s Cup campaigns (with five wins), along with four Olympic entries and two medals. This is definitely a powerful team, which has been seasoned over the past two years on the Maxi circuit on Rambler, which racked up an enviable record with Read and co. on board.

The one-boat campaign launched Il mostro (The monster) in May. It was designed by the team of Botin Carkeek and built at Goetz Custom Boats in Rhode Island. It hit the water with a literal and figurative splash, during a ‘Hollywood’ christening by Salma Hayek. Within days, the team embarked on their mandatory 2,000-mile qualifier, showing a level of confidence in the boat that impressed many observers. The team has been training all spring and summer out of Newport, and could surprise the more heavily funded, two-boat campaigns.

Follow the team online at pumaoceanracing.com