Luna Rossa Challenge to compete in 52 SUPER SERIES

With the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland to take place in monohull boats, the 52 SUPER SERIES expects to see renewed interest as teams seek to line up in the world’s leading grand prix monohull yacht racing circuit.

The first to announce their intentions was Britain’s Land Rover BAR as Sir Ben Ainslie will lead his America’s Cup team aboard Tony Langley’s Gladiator TP52. The next to step forward is the Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa Challenge.

Here is their announcement:
In view of the 36th America’s Cup, scheduled to take place in New Zealand in 2021, the team Luna Rossa Challenge will commence its preparation in the waters of Cagliari (Sardinia – Italy) with a TP 52 Class yacht – one of the most performing and challenging racing classes – with whom it will participate in the 2018 TP 52 Super Series.

The program for this project will be developed in two phases: a preliminary training – from February to May 2018 – on a provisional TP 52, while the final yacht is under construction at the Persico boatyard in Bergamo (Italy). During this period about thirty of the best young Italian sailors will be involved in the training in order to develop a new generation of top level racing sailors and expand the Luna Rossa sailing team.

During the second phase – which will start in May 2018, after the launch of the new boat – the team will continue its preparation in the waters of the Adriatic Sea, with the fine-tuning of the new TP 52. The final training of the racing crew will also take place in the Adriatic Sea, where the first races of the TP 52 Super Series will be held, with Francesco Bruni at the helm.

52 Super Series 2018 will be a best of 5 events trophy (preliminary calendar):
Croatia, Sibenik, May 22-27
Croatia, Zadar, June 19-24
Portugal, Cascais, Rolex TP52 World Championship, July 16-21
Spain, Puerto Portals, August 20-25
Spain, Valencia, September 17-22