ABOUT LUNA ROSSA

The Luna Rossa team is born in Milan one February evening from the meeting between entrepreneur Patrizio Bertelli and Argentine yacht designer Germán Frers, who both decide to participate in the 30th America’s Cup. On April 21st, the Punta Ala Yacht Club formally launches its challenge to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Defender of the Cup.

At the end of the 2000 edition, Luna Rossa was the first team to challenge for the Cup in 2003, thus becoming Challenger of Record (the challenger that, together with the Defender, writes the rules of the next edition). The Italian boat stops in the semi-finals of the Challenger Selection Series against the emerging Swiss team that goes on to win the 31st America’s Cup: Alinghi.

The Louis Vuitton Cup kicks off in San Francisco Bay with the AC72 maxi catamarans. Luna Rossa, racing under the burgee of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, qualifies for the Challenger Selection Final for the third time, although it will then be the New Zealanders to take on the challenge to the Americans of Oracle in the Final Match. With a legendary comeback, the US Defender wins the 34th America’s Cup.

Luna Rossa launched its sixth challenge as Challenger of Record.

Led by Skipper and Team Director Max Sirena and representing the Circolo della Vela Sicilia for the third time, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is challenging for the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup again onboard an AC75 foiling monohull. In order to build a highly competitive boat, the team has tested solutions, materials and technologies on its LEQ12 prototype, built and developed in-house at the Cagliari base.

The 35-person beating heart of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team.

Working both in the water and on land, the shore team is ready to take action at a moment’s notice. This team starts their work when the boat returns to land and finishes the next day, when the boat returns to the water again. Working inside tents and shipping containers, the team develops new parts and repairs daily damage. The team is divided into several units: composite and carbon manufacturing, hydraulics, electronics, riggers, sailmakers, mechanical workshop, deck equipment and painting. The team is responsible for the maintenance of the boat and builds custom-made small-to-medium-sized parts that connect the boat’s standard features with its more specific components.

11 team members will be competing on board the AC75: helmsman, mainsail trimmer, foil trimmer and the grinders. The team, with veterans and New Generation members, is composed of 21 men, included the coach. At sea they train with different types of boats, on ground they train on the simulator and in the gym. In addition to their specific boat roles, members have a specific role in coordination with the Shore team or the Design team to improve the performance of the boat.