Australia will set sail for the coveted America's Cup in 2027, ending a near 30-year wait for the nation's return.
Olympic gold medallist and sailing heavyweight Tom Slingsby leads a stacked Australian line-up looking to add to the historic 1983 victory when the Cup heads to Naples, Italy.
Australia's entry to the 38th edition of the Cup is backed by Sydney to Hobart winner John Winning Jr and part of the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club.
Not since 2000 has Australia vied for the world's oldest international trophy, with New Zealand having won the last three iterations since 2017.
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Fellow Olympic gold medallist Mat Belcher had mounted a challenge as skipper in 2017, but the Hamilton Island Yacht Club outfit was forced to withdraw due to skyrocketing financial costs.
Australia has won the famed Cup just once, famously ending the New York Yacht Club's 132-year winning streak in 1983.
Slingsby, multiple foiling champion and two-time World Sailor of the Year, described Australia's return to sailing's pinnacle event as a dream come true.
"The opportunity to represent Australia in the America's Cup with an Australian team is something that genuinely means a lot to me," Slingsby said in a statement.
"It's been a dream throughout my career to be part of bringing Australia back to the Cup in a meaningful way.
"There's a huge sense of excitement around what we're building together, and I'm incredibly proud to be part of the beginning of this new chapter for Australian sailing."
Joining Slingsby's crew is three-time Cup winner Glenn Ashby as head of performance and design.
Grant Simmer, a member of the 1983 'Australia II' campaign, was named the team's chief executive.
Australia's return to the Cup comes as the event introduces significant rule changes.
Each crew must have at least one female sailor, while a shift to battery-powered systems has placed greater emphasis on skill, strategy and flight control.
Team Australia's Tash Bryant, 25, described the changes as a new chapter for world sailing.
"This feels like an exciting new era for the America's Cup," Bryant said in a statement.
"The evolution of the boats and the competition is opening the door to broader opportunities and visibility for women in elite sailing, while also creating clearer pathways for younger generations coming through the sport.
"For young Australian sailors watching this campaign launch today, that representation and ambition matters greatly."
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