Ray Davies, Chief Coach for Emirates Team New Zealand, is acutely aware of what could be instore, saying: “We’ve looked at all the recon videos from when Luna Rossa were training there ahead of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup and that was some of the best sailing we ever saw in the build-up. We could see a nice NW flat water mistral breeze or a solid thermal onshore breeze with a bit of chop or a SE breeze from Africa which can kick up some good waves so we can expect some excellent racing conditions. Everyone is going to be watching the data in the lead up to Cagliari and we’ll certainly be looking at our heavier air performances here in Auckland for sure.”
For the first Preliminary Regatta in Cagliari, Sardinia, all the teams have the option to field two AC40 yachts with the second boat being crewed by a mix of Youth & Women team members. It’s an extraordinary pathway opportunity for the next generation of America’s Cup sailors to not only get vital fleet racing experience in the AC40’s but also to start building towards the Youth & Women’s America’s Cup events that are on the horizon in Naples in 2027.
Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, thinks that upsets could be on the cards: “From what we are seeing internally there is very little to choose between what you might call the ‘established’ sailors from the newcomers. We also know that the other teams have incredible depths of talent in their Youth & Women’s teams so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the fleet racing completely mixed and some of those next-gen talents taking big scalps. Cagliari will be incredibly interesting from a sporting perspective.”
In addition to the often-seen Mistral conditions, another phenomenon blows into the Bay of Angels and along the Poetto Beach in the form of the Scirocco wind that comes up from the south-east and the south-south-east usually with a much longer form wave pattern than the sharp chop of the Mistral. The Scirocco is what many call ‘dream conditions’ for foiling and where the AC40 yachts in a steady 18-20 knots of breeze could hit speeds topping 45 knots. Ray Davies is certainly hoping so: “those are the glamour conditions that usually produce clearer skies and if we get that, Cagliari will be a spectacle.”
Shoreside, spectators will get a first glimpse of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup with plenty of activations and fan engagement areas planned. Cagliari is the home of Luna Rossa, and the welcome is certain to be home team focussed with the passionate local ‘Tifosi’ taking every opportunity to cheer their national team on. A free access Race Village in the port with a further public FanZone area overlooking the race course is planned with large screens and live coverage which will bring all the action shoreside, and America’s Cup Event Director Leslie Ryan is excited by what’s instore saying: “We’ve worked so hard with all the relevant authorities who have been incredible in making this happen. It’s going to be like nothing else we’ve seen in the America’s Cup before. You can feel the atmosphere building already, all the locals and even the taxi drivers are talking about it. It is certain to be an incredible show.”
The format will see fleet racing with up to ten races planned over the four days and then the top two will fight it out for glory in a one match, winner-takes-all final. First blood in the America’s Cup is everything and all the teams will be looking for the positive momentum that a good result can build.
The Road to Naples 2027 begins in Cagliari. Put the date in the diary. You don’t want to miss this and expect the unexpected.