Trimming Luna Rossa
We have already met the men and women at the helm of Luna Rossa and their respective coaches. Today, let’s meet the trimmers and sailors who ensure the boat is perfectly balanced while underway. Their work changes significantly depending on whether we are talking about the AC40 One Design or the America’s Cup AC75.
In the first case, flight height is automatically stabilized; the trimmer therefore focuses on sail trim — the windward trimmer adjusts the mainsail, while the leeward trimmer handles the jib — according to the wind and waves, helping maintain the boat’s perfect balance and gain a few extra tenths of a knot over the competition.
The situation changes aboard the AC75, where both sail trim and flight control require human intervention, in roles that are constantly interconnected. On this boat, trimmers and flight controllers continuously alternate responsibilities. Like the helmsmen, they never switch sides, remaining on the same tack throughout the race. What changes is the role itself: the sailor on the windward side trims the sails, while the one on the leeward side manages flight control. Their task is far more complex than it may appear, requiring constant concentration, perfect synchronization with the helmsman, and an excellent understanding of the boat and its response times in every weather and sea condition.
Luna Rossa’s sailing team includes several trimmers — men and women, some very young, others more experienced. Their names are Vittorio Bissarro, Federico Colaninno, Maria Giubilei, Alice Linussi, Maria Vittoria Marchesini, Umberto Molineris, and Gianluigi Ugolini. Some of them come from victories in the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup, while others bring AC75 America’s Cup experience; some apply their engineering studies in practice, while others are taking on roles on board that differ from those they were used to. Some share their knowledge, others absorb it. What matters is that every training session, both on land and at sea, represents another step toward the common goal: creating the winning combination ahead of the races that are now fast approaching.
