Italy reports: Luna Rossa in the America's Cup

As YACHT online reported a good a fortnight ago, the circle of challengers has been expanded to include a name that is as well-known as it is respected. The Italian syndicate Luna Rossa will be taking part in the AC races. This has just been announced by the organiser, the America's Cup Event Authority.

The choice of two Italian venues for the World Series sailed on AC-45 cats had already indicated this. Now the deal has apparently been finalised. And it promises a powerful campaign. The team led by Prada boss Patrizio Bertelli will receive technological and tactical support from the currently leading New Zealanders of Grant Dalton. The Kiwis will help Luna Rossa with the design of the AC 72 and move into a joint training camp. A partnership that could potentially increase the number of favourites from three to four. Up to now, only Team New Zealand and Artemis Racing were considered to be capable of winning alongside the defending champions Oracle Racing. Now the Italians could join them. They have already been confirmed as challengers.

And they also have multihull experience. Luna Rossa is currently ranked first in the Extreme Sailing Series, not least thanks to Paul Campbell James, a young but experienced catamaran sailor who has strengthened the team enormously. The switch to the even more powerful and above all more manoeuvrable AC 45 with wing rig should not be difficult for him and his crew. Patrizio Bertelli said in a first statement: "I am sure that the cooperation with Emirates Team New Zealand will enable excellent results, which will bring both teams a faster and more efficient development both in terms of technology and sailing."

Grant Dalton's statement is even more interesting: he sees the advantages not only in sporting terms, but also economically. The cooperation is a further step forward in the long-term endeavour to "establish ourselves as a supplier of technology and services". This will emphasise New Zealand's expertise in the maritime sector.

With the announcement of another team, Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts are getting closer to their goal of putting the 34th America's Cup on a new footing. After critics initially speculated that the sport would become more expensive due to the radical rule changes and that the number of teams would remain limited to three or four, it now looks more and more as if the idea is catching on. The British are also rumoured to be working on a campaign, as sailing star Ben Ainslie told "Yachting World". Although only for the "preliminary round" on AC-45 - but it would still be an entry from the exit after Team Origin had to end its ambitions a year ago.