Start of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta, the Prelude to the America’s Cup

From August 22 to 25, off the coast of Barcelona, six crews will test their skills against the elements off the coast of Barcelona, gauging their ability to navigate in all wind and sea conditions. The final straight before the Louis Vuitton Cup and then the America's Cup, the Preliminary Regatta does not count towards the Louis Vuitton Cup points. Teams might employ a range of strategies and approaches, varying from one to another.

So far, the fleet’s speeds are comparable, with no clear leader emerging yet. The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, which is also sponsored by watchmaker Panerai, exudes confidence as they prepare for the regatta. Gilberto Nobili, Operations Manager and Mechatronics Coordinator, stated, "What will be particularly interesting to observe is the boats’ ability to sail in light winds but rough seas, with waves that could challenge the smooth sailing of the foil-equipped monohulls."

For this 37th edition of the America’s Cup, six monohulls are competing: Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing, France’s Orient Express Racing Team, Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, New Zealand’s Emirates Team New Zealand, the UK’s INEOS Britannia, and the USA’s NYYC American Magic.

The boats in this edition adhere to several one-design rules, such as a hull length of 20.7 meters, a mast height of 26.5 meters, and a weight limit of 6.5 tons. Compared to the 36th edition, the foils are larger to enable quicker lift and flight, the boats are lighter, and the onboard electronics and software have seen significant improvements. To reduce weight, the AC75 crew size has been cut from eleven to eight. These foil-equipped boats are now designed to sail at 50 knots in winds averaging 12 knots.

Each boat has drawn on exceptional expertise, often sourced within its home country. Max Sirena, Team Director and skipper of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, explains, “We are proud to sail under the Italian flag, and Italian craftsmanship is present in nearly every component of our boat. My first mission was to travel across Italy for eight months, seeking out technology companies and artisans capable of producing our hydraulic systems, mechanical components, and materials. This also allows us to keep our manufacturing secrets in-house, as these developments are highly strategic.”

On Thursday, August 22, the first day of the Preliminary Regatta, one race in particular promises to deliver a spectacular show: the rematch between the finalists of the last America’s Cup in Auckland 2021—Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. According to the America’s Cup press release, "These are certainly the two teams that have set the standards for this America’s Cup cycle, and with the unveiling of their AC75 designs, it’s clear that both teams have made significant advancements and appear to have similar speed profiles across a wide range of conditions."

Among those on board Emirates Team New Zealand will be their Kiwi skipper and America’s Cup winner, Peter Burling, while Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli will be helmed by Australian skipper Jimmy Spithill.