Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli have finished their training period in the waters off Cagliari. “For nearly three years – remembers the skipper, Max Sirena – we worked intensely to be ready for the challenge of the next America’s Cup. We would like to thank Regione Sardegna, the City of Cagliari, the authorities and all the organisations that worked so hard on the project and supported us with confidence throughout our training. Our base of operations is moving to Auckland, in  New Zealand, in light of the next events and the 36th America’s Cup”.

In a little under five months, the Prada America’s Cup will begin. Since 2018 the team has been based in Molo Ichnusa where the AC75 Luna Rossa took shape thanks to the meticulous collective work in which engineering and calculations combined with the precision of artistry: dozens of joints, hydraulic and electronic components and complex on board systems installed within a carbon fibre hull, while the sail makers skilfully assembled the sails.

Team Luna Rossa appreciated the welcome and warmth of the inhabitants of Cagliari, as well as for the “logistics and above all for the weather which is always perfect, allowing the team to not miss out on any days of precious sailing.” Over the next few days the team will begin its move to Auckland. “Barca 1” will be loaded onto a cargo ship which will take about two months to reach New Zealand.

LUNA ROSSA’S “FLYING” BOAT

“Barca 2“, instead, is nearing completion. There where some delays due to the lockdown, but the efforts of the entire team and the design department, who managed to coordinate remotely, allowed them to recover some of that time.

The second AC75 will leave the Persico Marine shipyard at the beginning of October and will be immediately loaded onto an Antonov, one of the biggest cargo planes in circulation, ready to sail in the Gulf of Hauraki in New Zealand by the end of October.

“We are very satisfied with the new boat – explains a note from the team – which comes from the multitude of data we collected and studied over the last few months, as well as the experience gained through the many hours of sailing on ‘Barca 1’, launched in October 2019, that the team used to continue training in the waters off Cagliari up until a few days ago.”.

“It isn’t easy to leave a city like Cagliari – notes Max Sirena – where the whole team has lived for three incredible years. We were welcomed and made to feel special, and everyone shared their support and fondness. In a few days we will begin moving to Auckland, where we will write a new chapter in this adventure which will see us more determined and concentrated on the final objective.”

A PLASTIC FREE TEAM

The reduction of single-use plastic is one of the concrete actions in favour of protecting the sea that Team Luna Rosa has pledged to carry out. The base in Cagliari eliminated the use of single-use plastic bottles and decided to use reusable water bottles that can be filled from the many fountains throughout the offices and the hangars.

Over the course of the year over 18 thousand litres of water were dispensed saving 36 thousand bottles, equivalent to 480kg of PET, for the manufacture of which 960kg of of oil and 8,160 litres of water are used. In addition the emission of over a tonne of CO2 has been reduced.

Giuseppe Orrù