37th America's Cup: Italy's Cup pride and joy christened - "Luna Rossa" comes as a silver arrow
Tatjana Pokorny
· 13.04.2024
It was traditionally Miuccia Prada who christened the new pride and joy of the Italian America's Cup team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli at the Molo Ichnusa base in Cagliari on Sardinia. In the presence of her husband and team president Patrizio Bertelli, Pirelli's vice president Marco Tronchetti Provera, skipper and team director Max Sirena and Agostino Randazzo as president of the challenging Circolo della Vela Sicilia association, "Luna Rossa" was christened on the afternoon of 13 April.
The name that has marked important milestones in my life has also become a worldwide icon in sailing" (Patrizio Bertelli)
Hundreds of guests, sponsors, partners, suppliers, representatives of the local authorities, TV crews and journalists celebrated the Silver Arrow with its beefy yellow foils. All the team members who have contributed to the creation of the Italian cup chaser were also present. Patrizio Bertelli, the tireless and passionate Cup chaser, spoke words of encouragement for his team.
The most tenacious challenger in Cup history
He founded the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team in 1997 and has been chasing the most important trophy in international sailing for longer than any other syndicate boss. Previously, Sir Thomas Lipton was always regarded as the most persistent Cup chaser with five challenges. However, the Briton was denied a victory with his yachts named "Shamrock" between 1899 and 1930.
Patrizio Bertelli, whose team is targeting the "bottomless silver jug" for the sixth time since its debut in the 30th America's Cup in 2000, said: "The boat we are launching today is the tenth America's Cup hull, which we have christened 'Luna Rossa'. This name, which has marked important milestones in my life, has also become a worldwide icon in sailing. It is a beautiful and radical boat that represents a step forward in terms of design and technology and is the result of an incredible collective effort."
The 78-year-old Italian entrepreneur, who has already invested hundreds of millions of euros in the America's Cup, continued: "I congratulate the team at all levels on its performance. In these 25 years, I have achieved a goal that I set myself a long time ago: to create a team of exceptional technicians and sailors capable of shaping the future of sport in our country and leaving a legacy for future generations. Now I hope to achieve my sporting goal with this new 'Luna Rossa' and win the America's Cup."
The result of three years of work
Max Sirena, skipper and team manager of the Azzurri, said: "Today is the most important day of our America's Cup campaign. We finally have the result of three years of work 'in the dark' before our eyes. This 'Luna Rossa' is an Italian challenge in terms of design, technology and aesthetics. As we only have one boat available (Red: This is what the regulations stipulate for all teams in the 37th America's Cup), we had to make bold decisions and push ourselves to the limit in all areas open to development and research."
I would like to thank each and every member of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli for creating a work of art that will leave its mark" (Max Sirena)
Max Sirena commented on this Italian jubilee day: "It was a tremendous team effort and I would like to thank every single member of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli for creating a work of art that will leave its mark. This is my sixth challenge with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, of which I am the leader. Although many years have passed since the first edition, the launch of a boat is always an incredible moment. I would therefore like to thank Patrizio Bertelli in particular, without whose vision and passion none of this would exist, Miuccia Prada, Marco Tronchetti Provera and all our sponsors and suppliers for their trust and support over the years."
Sirena also pointed out the Italians' well-known passion for the America's Cup: "'Luna Rossa' is a boat that the whole of Italy should be proud of because it embodies so much of the excellence of our country and is an ambassador of 'Made in Italy' throughout the world. This is the boat we wanted, the one that is potentially perfect to win the 37th America's Cup. Now it's our turn." Will the Cup coup succeed at the sixth attempt? The first test runs are due to begin in Cagliari in the coming days. The boat will then be transferred to Barcelona, where it will continue its training phase ahead of the America's Cup races.
The design is similar to that of the kiwis
After the New Zealand Cup defenders had already shown their AC75 rocket uncovered shortly before the official christening, a quick comparison shows that "Luna Rossa" looks a little less radical, especially in the bow area. On the other hand, the side view of the Italian Cup yacht has similar lines to the New Zealand AC75 monohull.
The deck of the "Luna Rossa" also slopes sharply towards the stern. Between the pods, the side cockpits, the deck looks extremely clean. It can be assumed that all the hydraulics for the mainsail have been banished below deck in order to minimise wind resistance above deck as much as possible. Helmsman Francesco Bruni himself pointed out that "Luna Rossa's" cockpit is similar to that of the New Zealand AC75. The Italian design team of almost 40 people is led by design coordinator Horacio Nicolas Carabelli.
A helmsman quartet gives "Luna Rossa" wings
The four helmsmen for the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team represent several generations of sailors. Italy's Cup hunters are relying on the experienced Francesco Bruni, who celebrated his 51st birthday two days before "Luna Rossa's" christening, and Cup perennial favourite Jimmy Spithill, 44. 32-year-old Nacra 17 Olympic champion Ruggero Tita and three-time Opti world champion Marco Gradoni, who is only 20 years old, are also on board. The two youngsters have already competed in a pre-regatta. Who will actually sail in the Cup will probably be decided in the coming months based on the performance data of the top people.
