Twenty-five years after the launch of the first Luna Rossa (in 1999), the Italian challenger's America's Cup hull No.10 first touched water today: it is the AC75 foiling monohull with which Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli will participate in the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain.
The sea christening of the only Italian boat in the 2024 edition took place at 1:20 pm local time at the Molo Ichnusa base and was attended by Miuccia Prada, Patrizio Bertelli (President of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli), Marco Tronchetti Provera (Executive Vice President of Pirelli, co-title sponsor of the team), Max Sirena (Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli) and Agostino Randazzo (President of Circolo della Vela Sicilia). Special guests of the event were sponsors, partners, suppliers and local authorities as well as TV and media representatives. Alongside these were, of course, all the team members who contributed to the birth of this extraordinary boat which, starting from today, will also bring Oakley on board as its new Technical Performance Partner.
After the traditional blessing by Monsignor Baturi, archbishop of Cagliari, Miuccia Prada broke the bottle of Cantine Ferrari's Maximum Blanc de Blancs on the vessel's bow, christening her “Luna Rossa”. The sharp and powerful lines of the AC75, enhanced by a bold metallic "Metal K" livery, are a statement of intent and hint at the enormous effort behind this radical project that incorporates the design solutions, technological innovations and experimental materials tested over the past two years on the LEQ12 prototype.
Conceived by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's design team and built at the Persico Marine shipyard in Nembro, Luna Rossa involved its entire pool of engineers and naval architects (40 people) in the development and executive phase that required more than 70,000 hours of work by 35 boat builders (between team and technicians). Approximately 3,500 square meters of pre-preg carbon fiber (Delta - Preg) were used for the construction of the hull and composite components. The AC75 mounts a 26.5 m. mast (built by the team in Cagliari) with a soft wing composed of twin mainsails plus a headsail (jib), for a total sail area of about 220 sq. m. The sails are mainly made of Carbon and Dyneema and manufactured by means of 3Di North Sails technology. There are eight crew members on board: two helmsmen, two trimmers and four cyclors.
In a perfect synthesis of form and function, Luna Rossa is the highest expression of technology applied to yachting. Thanks to the numerous leading companies – Italian and international – that have chosen to join the team in its challenge for the 37th America’s Cup, excellences from different business worlds have converged on this boat, working in synergy and combining their mutual know-how to guarantee Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli the most advanced innovations and methodologies in each sector.
Patrizio Bertelli - President of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team
«The boat we launched today is the tenth America's Cup hull that we christen “Luna Rossa”. This name, hat has marked important milestones in my life, has also become an iconic name in sailing worldwide. It is a beautiful and radical boat, that represents a step forward in terms of design and technology, born from an incredible collective effort. For this I congratulate the team at all levels for its achievement. In these 25 years I have accomplished a goal that I had set for myself a long time ago: to create a team of extraordinary technicians and sailors capable of shaping the future of sport in our country and leaving a legacy for future generations. Now, with this new Luna Rossa, I also hope to achieve my sporting ambition, to win the America's Cup».
Marco Tronchetti Provera - Executive Vice President of Pirelli.
«Luna Rossa is synonymous with technological excellence, competition and finest Italian quality. It is an honor for us to have the Pirelli name alongside such a great project that stems from a passion for sailing and for the America's Cup, a trophy that combines sporting challenge and innovation. The boat and its crew have the potential to excite us and to compete for the Cup. My personal best wishes go out to the whole team».
Max Sirena - Team Director and Skipper of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
«Today is the most important day of our America's Cup campaign, we finally have before our eyes the result of three years of work 'in the dark'. This Luna Rossa is an Italian challenge in terms of design, technology and aesthetics. With only one boat at our disposal, we had to make brave choices, pushing ourselves to extremes in all areas open to development and research, thanks also to the know-how acquired with the LEQ12 prototype. It has been an immense team effort, and I want to applaud every single member of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli for having masterminded a work of art that will leave its mark. This is my sixth challenge with team Luna Rossa, of which I am the priviledged leader, and although many years have passed since the first edition, the launch of a boat is always an incredible moment. So first of all I want to thank Patrizio Bertelli, without whose vision and passion all this would not exist, Miuccia Prada, Marco Tronchetti Provera and all our sponsors and suppliers for the trust and support shown over these years. Luna Rossa is a boat that all of Italy should be proud of because it incorporates so much of our country's excellence and is an ambassador of Made in Italy all over the world. This is the boat we wanted, potentially perfect to win the 37th America's Cup. Now it's our turn».
Agostino Randazzo - President Circolo della Vela Sicilia
«For the third consecutive edition, the Circolo della Vela Sicilia will be alongside Luna Rossa in the America's Cup challenge. Knowing that our burgee will fly alongside the tricolor on board this incredible boat fills us with pride. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has once again succeeded in creating a boat that is inspiring for its beauty, shapes and futuristic concept. On behalf of the Club I congratulate Patrizio Bertelli and Max Sirena for once again thinking outside the box, and the entire team for this extraordinary achievement».
Testing and sea trial sessions will start in the coming days in Cagliari. Afterwards, the boat will be transferred to Barcelona where she will continue in a training phase ahead of the America's Cup races.