Watch Out – “The Italians are Coming”

Nail-biting is an understatement for anyone watching the lead up to the 36th America’s Cup. Prada Cup champions Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli will go up against Emirates Team New Zealand on Wednesday March 10 in the America’s Cup Match. Intent on maintaining momentum and not letting their guard down, skipper Checco Bruni recently wrote: “The Italians are coming!

Sailing skills, weather conditions and boat power will all count as these esteemed athletes tackle the task at hand. But in the end, it’s all about timing.

By Debbie Hathway

It’s all in the stats

Stats from previous races put things in perspective. To understand, one only has to read the reports tracking the Prada Cup, which Challenger of Record Luna Rossa had to win in February 2021. In the last semi-final races completed in 11-14 knots against New York Yacht Club American Magic, Luna Rossa’s winning margin was 0:35 and 3:51. “Straight-line duel” and “keeping the foot on the throat” give you an idea of the atmosphere as Luna Rossa’s lead stretched from 0:13 to 0:22 to 0:41 in the first race that day before finishing only 0:35 seconds ahead.

 

The Race Course is approximately 1.7nm long (about 3km) and 0.5nm to 0.8nm (0.9km to 1.5km) wide, surrounded by boundaries that the AC75s must stay within. Boats travel close to 100kph.
In the final against INEOS TEAM UK, Luna Rossa “buried their opponents” finishing 1:45 ahead in the last race. The result saw Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli make history by being the first Challenger of Record in 51 years to win a Challenger Selection Series and go on to Challenge for the America’s Cup.

Challenger of Record

This is only the third time in history that an Italian team will compete in the America’s Cup Match. The first was in 1992 with the legendary Moro di Venezia led by Raul Gardini with Paul Cayard at the helm and the second in 2000, with the original Luna Rossa, entrusted to Francesco De Angelis.

This remarkable goal has been achieved through passion, intensive training, and the support of a massive technological foundation. The Italians are renowned for both their creative and engineering skills.

Serving as the official timekeeper and being recognized as the leading Italian brand at the queen of regattas in support of an Italian team is an honour and a privilege for Panerai.

Founded in Florence in 1860 as a workshop, shop and school of watch-making, Panerai supplied the Italian Navy in general, and its specialist diving corps in particular, with precision instruments for many decades. Their designs, including the Luminor and Radiomir, were originally covered by the Military Secrets Act. They were only launched on the international market after the brand was acquired by the Richemont Group in 1997.

Today Panerai develops and crafts its movements and watches at its Neuchâtel manufacture.

Working with the best

Working with Max Sirena and the entire Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team has enabled the brand to create a collection of watches inspired by the technologies and materials used in the America’s Cup. Carbotech™ was developed based on carbon fibre, used to build Luna Rossa’s AC75 monohull.

This collaboration is not only based on the applications of high-performance timepieces but also technical innovation, Italian excellence, and love of the sea and adventure. These are values that both brands share.

The Italian worked on improving their technique, transitions between manoeuvres, their manoeuvrability, and aggressiveness for the Prada Cup. In an interview released by Max Sirena, the team director shared his profound happiness not only because of the race results, but also because the team received support from everyone involved in the project.

Race 1 will start shortly after 4pm (NZT)on the Hauraki Gulf. The teams will compete twice a day until Monday March 15, (except for the rest day on Thursday March 11. Racing will continue until one team notches up seven race wins.

Watch the racing live on Youtube.