Luna Rossa, Youth and Women: it's their turn now

The 37th America's Cup opens to youth and women with two dedicated events, the UniCredit Youth America's Cup and the Puig Women's America's Cup. The former is reserved for Under 25 crews, while the latter is dedicated to female crews with no age limit.

Today, on the eve of the youth regattas, the representatives of the participating teams joined the opening press conference. Marco Gradoni, skipper and helmsman of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Youth team commented: «I had the opportunity to race on the AC40 in Jeddah, and it was an amazing experience; now I’m looking ahead to the next challenge, which is the youth regatta, sailed with a completely different crew. We received massive support from the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team. The crew from the women’s team has also helped us a lot in our preparation. We've trained hard, we’re ready to take on the conditions in Barcelona and we can’t wait to race.»

The starting crew for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup features Marco Gradoni, Gianluigi Ugolini (helmsmen), Federico Colaninno, and Rocco Falcone (trimmers).

Regarding the format and rules, below is the key information to best follow and understand the Luna Rossa regattas.

Both events will be sailed on the One Design AC40 foiling monohulls. There is a crew of four on board, two helmsmen/helmswomen and two trimmers. Cyclors are not involved, as the sail and foil control systems are operated by battery-powered systems. The format - which replicates that of the first two Preliminary Regattas in Vilanova i La Geltrú and Jeddah - features fleet racing plus a Match Race final.

Twelve teams participate in each event, six America's Cup teams and six by invitation, divided into Group 1 and Group 2: a large fleet that brings together youth and women's talents from different countries around the world. 

At the end, the top three teams from each group will compete in a fleet final (four races) to determine the overall standings and the top two teams that will then race in the match race final.

UniCredit Youth Americas' Cup - Schedule
Sept. 17: Group 1 (4 fleet races)
Sept. 18: Group 2 (4 fleet races)
Sept. 20: Group 1 (4 fleet races)
Sept. 21: Group 2 (4 fleet races)
Sept. 22: Best three teams from each group compete in the final (4 races)
Sept. 26: Match race final

Puig Women's America's Cup - Schedule
Oct. 05: Group 1 (4 fleet races)
Oct. 06: Group 2 (4 fleet races)
Oct. 08: Group 1 (4 fleet races)
Oct. 09: Group 2 (4 fleet races)
Oct. 11: Best three teams from each group compete in the final (4 races)
Oct. 13: Match race final

Below are the main rules applied

START the starting line will be marked by two geostationary buoys
- boats must cross the line within 3 minutes of the starting signal.

COURSE windward - leeward, with windward and leeward gates
- The Race Committee may shorten the course, but since they must complete at least 2 laps, they may stop the race no earlier than the downwind gate.
- For the race to be validated the races must be completed within the following two time limits: one for the first gate (10') and one for the full course (30').
- The winning boat must pass the first windward gate within the relevant time limit and must cross the finish line within the total time limit
- From the moment in which the first boat has completed the course, after 5' the Committee closes the finish line (o meglio the race is declared closed/finished).
- If a boat crosses the finish line within the time limit, the race is valid. Other boats will be ranked according to their position crossing the finish line or, otherwise, according to their position at the previous gates.

PENALTIES
- The penalized boat must “lose” 75 m from the boat indicated by the Umpires. If a penalty is assigned before the start, it must be executed within 60 seconds (but not before the start).
- If a boat at the finish has a penalty, it will have 20 seconds/penalty added to its time at the finish.

SCORE
Position Points
1°         10
2°         7
3°         5
4°         3
5°         2
6°         1