Luna Rossa Wins Both Races in the Gulf, French AC75 Arrives at Bagnoli

Luna Rossa starts strong in Naples waters. As reported by Il Mattino, the Italian team's AC40 won both training races held today in the Gulf, ahead of the Preliminary Regatta that kicks off tomorrow, Friday September 25.

Two clear victories

In the first Practice Race Luna Rossa finished in 19'48", with a 15-second advantage over the Women & Youth crew of Emirates Team New Zealand. In the second race the margin grew: 19'31" the time for Luna Rossa 1, with 42" over Emirates Team New Zealand and 59" over GB1. Further back the second Italian boat, the Women & Youth one, fourth at 1'25", ahead of American Racing and La Roche-Posay Racing Team.

The new crew

It is the first test for Luna Rossa's renewed lineup, with Peter Burling and Marco Gradoni at the helm and Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei completing the quartet. Burling, two-time champion with Emirates Team New Zealand, spoke of a "new" configuration but highlighted the good condition reached by the group, according to Il Mattino.

The Preliminary Regatta schedule

Starting tomorrow things get serious: three fleet races on Friday, another three on Saturday and two on Sunday to complete the program. The top two classified after the eight races will access the final match race. In Naples, nine AC40s from six teams are competing on the same race course that in 2027 will host the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup Match. The Preliminary Regatta does not award points for the ranking that will lead to the 2027 Cup.

AC75s arrive at Bagnoli

In parallel with the AC40 races, the arrival of the Big Boats that will compete in the next Louis Vuitton America's Cup began in the Bagnoli hangars, between spring and summer. The first to reach Naples were the French from La Roche-Posay, who concluded today their long journey from Marseille with their AC75. As Il Mattino writes, the next to arrive will be the British, whose refitting is underway at a Genoa shipyard and should be completed within a month before the transfer to Naples. The other teams are expected instead in 2027.