Luna Rossa has set an early benchmark at the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples, winning all three official practice races as the AC40 fleet took to the Bay of Naples.
The Italian team, led by Peter Burling in the starboard pod with Marco Gradoni, Maria Giubilei and Gigi Ugolini, produced a dominant display in the opening session, extending leads of up to 500 metres during the racing.
The official practice races do not count towards the regatta standings, but the performance provided an early indication of the pace of the new-look Luna Rossa squad.
Italian Team Reads Naples Conditions Perfectly
After concerns ashore about the expected weather, the Bay of Naples delivered a strong sea breeze with 10–12 knots from 210 degrees, allowing the AC40s to reach speeds above 30 knots both upwind and downwind.
Luna Rossa made the most of the shifting southerly conditions, favouring the right-hand side of the course and repeatedly finding the best pressure as the breeze moved towards the south-west.
Coach Simone Salva praised both Luna Rossa squads after the opening day, highlighting the performance of the Women & Youth team alongside the principal team.
ARC Team USA Impresses As Fleet Finds Form
ARC Team USA emerged as one of the strongest challengers, finishing second overall in the non-counting practice session.
Helmed by Harry Melges IV and Lucas Calabrese, the American team impressed with smooth manoeuvres and strong boat handling, including a double gybe at the leeward gate in the second race.
Calabrese said the result showed progress but stressed that the team remained focused on development ahead of the longer AC38 campaign.
Emirates Team New Zealand finished third overall after struggling with some early start-line issues, although the team recovered strongly during the day.
The Luna Rossa Women & Youth team also impressed, recovering from early problems to finish the day showing increasing confidence, with skipper Margherita Porro and co-helm Max Antoniazzi combining effectively.
Racing continues in Naples, with three races scheduled from 2pm CEST, and forecasts suggest more challenging conditions ahead for the AC40 fleet.
