Italians return to challenge for the America’s Cup

(June 12, 2014) – On Thursday Luna Rossa Challenge released several videos and stories detailing their team for the 35th America’s Cup.

Patrizio Bertelli, the passionate team principal of Luna Rossa, introduced Max Sirena as skipper for the second consecutive challenge:

“In addition to his unquestionable technical skills, one of Max’s strongest qualities is the ability to manage relationships with his staff: he understands the needs and rationale of each department in the team and puts himself on an equal level with everyone. He is also a strong team builder: success in the America’s Cup is never the result of an individual but a combination of factors that lead to the victory of an entire team.”

Sirena says he has retained the core of the team from the last America’s Cup, adding some crucial parts to develop the strongest possible team. And he looks to the results of the last Cup for proof that you must never stop improving:

“The America’s Cup is an ongoing process and until the last day of the last regatta you must study, design, improve. Oracle team USA has proved this in the last edition: at a disadvantage of 8 to 1 they introduced technical innovation, steadily improved crew performances by learning from their mistakes, reacted with determination and managed to turn the tables, winning the America’s Cup at 9 to 8!”

The Luna Rossa Challenge sailing team:

Max Sirena
Francesco Bruni
Pierluigi de Felice
Chris Draper
Ben Durham
Shannon Falcone
Bora Gulari
Emanuele Marino
Marco Mercuriali
Adam Minoprio
Manuel Modena
Gilberto Nobili
Alister Richardson
Pietro Sibello
Simeon Tienpont

Source: Event media