Luna Rossa youth team at the 69F Youth Gold Cup in Torbole

Motivated by their excellent results during Act 2 of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup 2023 in La Grande-Motte (France), closed with a first, a third and a sixth place, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli youth team (six boys and three girls) reached Lake Garda geared up and determined to do well. Although not all the teams achieved the results they had hoped for, it was a very important event for the selection of the youth and women's crew that will represent Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli at the Youth and Puig Women's America's Cup in Barcelona 2024.

Accompanied by coach Simone Salvà, the under-25 sailors, among the best talents of Italian youth sailing who had taken part in Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's Youth Camps, were up against 16 extremely competitive crews coming from eight countries, many of these including athletes who will race in the next Youth and Women's regattas in Barcelona in 2024.

Luna Rossa Swordfish's crew consisted of Guido Gallinaro (helmsman), Leonardo Chisté and Alessandra Dubbini; the Luna Rossa Piranha crew had Margherita Porro at the helm, with Stefano Dezulian and Federico Colaninno, while the Rum Runners had on crew Rocco Falcone (helmsman), Filippo Amonti and Alice Cialfi.

Rum Runners conducted solid races from the start and closed ACT 4 in second place (after losing the first position due to a penalty). Thanks to the victory in ACT 2 in La Grande-Motte, the team from Antigua with an Italian crew (helmsman Rocco Falcone has dual citizenship), which raced in Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's Youth program in the two European events of the 69F circuit, still obtained an entry pass to the Grand Finale in Barcelona (November 2-5, 2023), the final event of the 69F Youth Foiling Gold Cup, reserved for the first two teams ranked in each Act.

On the other hand, the team led by Guido Gallinaro finished fourth, despite having been the most consistent of the fleet during the qualifying races: «Guido missed the target by a hair’s breadth», says Salvà; «on the first day of the Gold Final, with a hefty dose of bad luck and a complex and anomalous weather situation compared to the typical conditions of the lake, he did not perform as well as in the previous events, but in the end it was only a one-point gap that he could have easily made up. Unfortunately, the really tricky conditions of the final day, with rain and very little wind, forced the committee to cancel the scheduled races. Clearly the result is disappointing, but the team is very strong and will have the opportunity to prove it».

Great disappointment, on the other hand, for team Luna Rossa Piranha, which after its brilliant performance during the qualifying races (fourth with equal score as the third team on 65.5 points) was forced to withdraw due to an injury to helmswoman Margherita Porro. «I’m really sorry for Margherita Porro and team Luna Rossa Piranha», commented Salvà, «they had all the right cards to enter the Gold and bring home a good result. Unfortunately this is also part of the sport, but I am sure they will be back racing soon and stronger than ever...».

«The regattas were going so well», says Margherita Porro, «we had improved from day one, both as Luna Rossa squad and as the Piranha team; I want to thank Federico (Colaninno) and Stefano (Dezulian), because we helped each other a lot in these last days and above all because they stayed by my side in this tough moment; I also want to thank coach Simone Salvà and to the whole Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team (especially Camilla Baruzzi), for not leaving me alone for a moment: I really needed it. So, thanks to everyone».

«This was a very important event for us», commented Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, «not only in terms of scoring and ranking, but mainly because it concerned the sailors we are focusing on to form the Youth and Women teams; every regatta we enter at this level is useful for the experience we take home. Above all we are happy that Margherita is feeling better and that the accident that involved her turned out to be less serious than it could have been: she will need a period of rest but Luna Rossa is waiting for her and I’m looking forward to having her sail on our boats again. All in all, considering the days the guys have spent on these boats, they have done very well because both in La Grande-Motte and here in Torbole they have shown a very good performance. I would say that the balance is positive in all respects. We go home knowing that we have learned a lot and this experience will help us to better manage the months ahead of us between now and next year's regattas in Barcelona. My congratulations to these guys. Now it's back to work to prepare for the coming and important regattas».

«It was a very intense week with many qualifying days, where we placed first», explained Guido Gallinaro; «unfortunately there was only one day in the final where we narrowly missed the qualification, but the team still did very well. Congratulations to Team Antigua and best wishes to Margherita for a speedy recovery».

Rocco Falcone, on the other hand, was satisfied as he secured himself – also thanks to the first place gained in France - entry to the Grand Finale in Barcelona: «Being here with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's Youth team was great; the races were really tough and challenging due to the ever-changing weather conditions, but overall it was an extraordinary week. Thanks to coach Simone and everyone for this experience».