America’s Cup: Italy launches Cup boat

Auckland, New Zealand (October 20, 2020) – The second AC 75 Luna Rossa boat was launched this morning, enhanced by the blessing of Luna Rossa by Father “Pa” Peter Tipene, Cathedral Dean of Auckland Cathedral, and followed by the christening of the boat by Tatiana Sirena, wife of Team Director and Skipper Max Sirena.

The local Maori welcome ritual accompanied Luna Rossa in the final phase of the launch as she was lowered into the sea.

The hull, built at the Persico Marine shipyard in Nembro (Bergamo), reached Auckland on October 6 on an Antonov cargo plane, the largest transport aircraft in the world. In the few days that separated the arrival of the boat from the launch, the foils, the on-board systems, and instrumentation were installed and set up in record time to be ready to sail right after the first load tests, which started one hour after the launch.

“First of all, I would like to thank the Persico boatyard and all its staff who managed, despite the difficulties of the moment, to respect delivery times and allowed us to use this second boat who, for many aspects, represents an evolution of the first,” said Team President Patrizio Bertelli.

“I also want to thank the whole team: they have worked day and night, with no distinction of roles, to be on deadline and ready to launch today. In a few days we will already see Boat 2 sailing and will get our first impressions, which I am sure will live up to expectations. And, soon after, racing starts. My best wishes to everyone at work on this sensational project.”

Boat 2 is the natural evolution of the previous project, developed on the basis of the data collected during the intense navigation period in the Gulf of Cagliari, and elaborated by the design team, with the close collaboration of the sailing team whose feedback was essential to the process.

As on Boat 1, the new hull will also feature technology details designed in partnership with Pirelli. Among these, thanks to this company’s ability to create innovative materials for tire technology, is a component, used for all parts that touch the water, that adds performance at the highest speed range.

“The launch of the second Luna Rossa is the culmination of over 3 years of work of the team and all our partners,” reports Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director. “It is the start of the most important phase of the campaign.

“The team has worked hard to prepare for this moment and it is great to see the motivation on people’s faces in these weeks of work here in Auckland. Everyone knows how important this moment is: now we are getting to the heart of the matter, and the program is to start sailing a few days after the launch.”

For the first time, the AC75 class boats competing in the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA will race against each other in the waters of Auckland in the PRADA America’s Cup World Series and the PRADA Christmas Race, scheduled to take place from December 17 to 20.

However, the competition will heat up with the 2021 PRADA Cup event (January 15-February 22), the Challengers Selection Series that will determine the team challenging the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the Final Match of the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA (March 6-21, 2021).

Details: www.americascup.com

36th America’s Cup
In addition to Challenges from Italy, USA, and Great Britain that were accepted during the initial entry period (January 1 to June 30, 2018), eight additional Notices of Challenge were received by the late entry deadline on November 30, 2018. Of those eight submittals, entries from Malta, USA, and the Netherlands were also accepted. Here’s the list:

Defender:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)

Challengers:
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger of Record
• American Magic (USA)
• INEOS Team UK (GBR)
• Malta Altus Challenge (MLT) – WITHDRAWN
• Stars + Stripes Team USA (USA)
• DutchSail (NED) – WITHDRAWN

Of the three late entries, only Stars+Stripes USA remains committed, however, it is unclear what entry payments have been made, nor is there knowledge of a boat being actively built or sailing team assembled.

Key America’s Cup dates:
✔ September 28, 2017: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
✔ November 30, 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
✔ January 1, 2018: Entries for Challengers open
✔ March 31, 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
✔ June 30, 2018: Entries for Challengers close
✔ August 31, 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed
✔ August 31, 2018: Specific race course area confirmed
✔ November 30, 2018: Late entries deadline
✔ March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ 2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series events (CANCELLED)
✔ October 1, 2019: US$1million late entry fee deadline (NOT KNOWN)
✔ February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ April 23-26, 2020: First (1/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Cagliari, Sardinia (CANCELLED)
✔ June 4-7, 2020: Second (2/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Portsmouth, England (CANCELLED)
• December 17-20, 2020: Third (3/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Auckland, New Zealand
• January 15-February 22, 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
• March 6-15, 2021: The America’s Cup Match

Youth America’s Cup Competition (CANCELLED)
• February 18-23, 2021
• March 1-5, 2021
• March 8-12, 2021

AC75 launch dates:
September 6, 2019 – Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Boat 1
September 10, 2019 – American Magic (USA), Boat 1; actual launch date earlier but not released
October 2, 2019 – Luna Rossa (ITA), Boat 1
October 4, 2019 – INEOS Team UK (GBR), Boat 1
October 16, 2020 – American Magic (USA), Boat 2
October 17, 2020 – INEOS Team UK (GBR), Boat 2
October 20, 2020 – Luna Rossa (ITA), Boat 2

Details: www.americascup.com