The Luna Rossa team, an emblem of Italian sailing excellence, began its America’s Cup journey in 1997 when entrepreneur Patrizio Bertelli and yacht designer Germán Frers decided to compete in the world’s most prestigious sailing competition. Luna Rossa’s debut in 2000 was a remarkable success, as they won the Louis Vuitton Cup and faced New Zealand in the America’s Cup Final. Though they didn’t clinch the title, Luna Rossa’s performance—38 victories in 49 races—secured its place as a top contender.

In the 2003 edition, Luna Rossa became the Challenger of Record, shaping the rules for the next edition, but was ultimately eliminated in the semi-finals by Alinghi, the emerging Swiss team that went on to win. 2007 brought Luna Rossa another milestone when they defeated the American Oracle team in the semifinals, before being ousted by Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final.

Luna Rossa continued to battle in subsequent editions, reaching the Challenger Selection Final in 2013, and after briefly withdrawing in 2015, they rejoined the competition for the 2017 Bermuda edition. 2021 saw their best performance yet, winning the PRADA Cup and scoring three victories in the America’s Cup Final against New Zealand, their most successful challenge to date.

Now, as the 37th America’s Cup unfolds in Barcelona in 2024, Luna Rossa, led by Max Sirena, is competing once again under the banner of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia. With a high-tech AC75 foiling monohull, the team has embraced cutting-edge innovations, including solutions tested on their LEQ12 prototype, to compete at the highest level. The excitement surrounding Luna Rossa continues to build, as they strive to claim the America’s Cup and bring it to Italy for the first time in history.

THE PARTNERSHIP

As the Official Sponsor for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli since 2019, Panerai has continued to deepen a relationship of mutual passion for sport and sailing. Over the course of this partnership, Panerai has been committed to designing a series of technical timepieces, each reflecting the progress and challenges faced in competitive sailing. Every collection showcases the forefront of technology and innovative materials characteristic of the America’s Cup, enriched by the critical insights and requirements from the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team. This enduring partnership reflects a mutual commitment to pushing the boundaries.

 

DESIGN TEAM

This 37-member team is by far the largest and is divided into 5 units: naval architecture, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering and aero and hydrodynamic engineering. As well as designing the hulls, sails and all the custom design components, the team analyses the data from the simulator and from the computers connected to the hull during sea training. In coordination with the Sailing team and the Shore team, they work every day to design solutions that increase the boat’s performance.

 

 

SHORE TEAM

Is the 35-person beating heart of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. 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. The team is divided into several units: composite and carbon manufacturing, hydraulics, electronics, riggers, sailmakers, mechanical workshop, deck equipment and painting. 

 

 

SAILING TEAM

11 team members are competing on board the AC75: helmsman, mainsail trimmer, foil trimmer and the grinders. The full team, with veterans and New Generation members, is composed of 21 men, included the coach. 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.

As the 37th America’s Cup races progress, Luna Rossa’s tenacity, expertise, and relentless pursuit of excellence promise to make this edition one of the most thrilling yet. Whether or not they will finally achieve their ultimate goal remains to be seen, but the world is eagerly watching this historic moment for Italian sailing.

 

 

Follow the team’s site for more information.

Follow the iconic series of races 37th edition news here.

Information from Panerai official site and America’s cup official site.