Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli delivered a masterclass performance on home waters to capture the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples. Sailing in front of an adoring partisan crowd that packed the Race Village and lined the shorelines, the Italian squad capped off a dominant week on the Bay of Naples by defeating Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in a high-stakes final match race. The victory served as an emphatic statement of intent from the Italian challenger, who dominated the preceding fleet racing series by 15 points after winning four of the eight races.
The final match race provided a tense tactical duel between the regatta’s two standout teams. Emirates Team New Zealand, helmed by Nathan Outteridge and Seb Menzies, initiated aggressive moves early in the pre-start box to push Luna Rossa high and wide.
However, co-helms Peter Burling and Marco Gradoni executed a decisive low-line maneuver toward the pin end, forcing the Kiwis to miscalculate their timing and cross the starting line late. Although New Zealand briefly led up the first beat after splitting to the right, a single sluggish tack allowed Luna Rossa to slip ahead at the first gate. From there, the Italian crew put on a clinic in defensive match racing, tacking 25 times over the remaining five legs to cover every maneuver, trapping the Kiwis in dirty air, and extending their lead to over 200 meters to seal a 17-second victory despite the Defender registering a higher top speed of 42.9 knots.
Beyond the head-to-head final, the regatta highlighted notable performances across the fleet and showcased the evolving dynamics of high-performance foiling. Luna Rossa’s victory underscored the strength of their squad rotation, seamlessly integrating youth and women’s crew members—including trimmer Maria Giubilei—alongside experienced America’s Cup veterans. Elsewhere in the fleet, the La Roche-Posay Racing Team impressed spectators with raw pace and aggressive tactics despite suffering two capsizes while pushing the limits, while Tudor Team Alinghi struggled with consistency but demonstrated solid potential in higher wind ranges.
With back-to-back preliminary victories in Sardinia and Naples now secured, Luna Rossa enters the next phase of the 38th America’s Cup campaign with momentum on their side. As all competing syndicates shift their focus from the AC40s toward the full-scale AC75 development boats, the dramatic showcase on the Bay of Naples set an intense competitive tone for the battles ahead.
Event Overview
- Event: Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup – Preliminary Regatta Naples.
- Venue: Bay of Naples, Italy.
- Winner: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Luna Rossa Team 1).
- Runner-Up: Emirates Team New Zealand.
- Key Outcome: Luna Rossa dominated the fleet racing series, winning by 15 points before sealing the overall victory in the match race final.
Final Match Race Breakdown
The final showdown pitted the regatta’s two standout teams—Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand—against each other in one-on-one match racing:
- Pre-Start Tactics: Emirates Team New Zealand (helmed by Nathan Outteridge and Seb Menzies) took early initiative in the pre-start box, pushing the Italians high and wide. However, co-helms Peter Burling and Marco Gradoni dragged the pre-start duel low toward the pin end, causing the Kiwis to lose critical timing and arrive late for the starting line.
- First Beat & Lead Change: Team New Zealand initially split to the right-hand side and led up the first beat. A single slow tack by the Kiwis allowed Luna Rossa to slip through and claim the lead at the first gate.
- Tactical Cover: Over the remaining five legs, Luna Rossa executed textbook match-racing tactics. The Italians tacked 25 times to cover every single move made by the New Zealanders, keeping them pinned to the boundaries and trapped in dirty air.
- Finish: Despite Team New Zealand posting a higher top speed (42.9 knots to Luna Rossa’s 39.8 knots), Luna Rossa’s superior position control extended their lead to over 200 metres, crossing the line ~17 seconds ahead for a convincing final victory.
Performance Highlights & Team Dynamics
| Team | Performance Summary | Key Takeaway |
| Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli | Dominant throughout, winning 4 of 8 fleet races and all practice races prior. | Blended principal, youth, and women’s crew members seamlessly (including trimmer Maria Giubilei). |
| Emirates Team New Zealand | Showed impressive straight-line boat speed but suffered minor execution delays in manoeuvres. | Highlighted strong crew recovery after early race setbacks during the regatta. |
| La Roche-Posay Racing Team | Outstanding pace and aggressive tactical style. | Placed strong pressure on top teams despite experiencing two capsizes while pushing hard. |
| Tudor Team Alinghi | Frustrating finish, though competitive in higher wind ranges. | Focused on learning from tactical errors ahead of the upcoming AC75 big-boat phase. |
Looking Ahead to the 38th America’s Cup
While the AC40 regattas in Sardinia and Naples highlighted Luna Rossa’s two consecutive pre-season victories over the Defender, all teams now turn their focus to transitioning into their full-scale AC75 development boats ahead of the main event. The spectacle in Naples underscored Italy’s growing momentum and set a competitive stage for the upcoming America’s Cup campaign.
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