Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli | |
---|---|
Career | |
Yacht club | Yacht Club Punta Ala (1997–2003) Yacht Club Italiano (2003–2007) Circolo della Vela Sicilia (2011–) |
Established | 1997 |
Nation | Italy |
Team principal(s) | Patrizio Bertelli |
Skipper | Francesco de Angelis (1997–2007) Max Sirena (2011–) |
Notable sailors | Torben Grael James Spithill Francesco Bruni Pietro Sibello |
Notable victories | 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup 2011 Extreme Sailing Series 2021 Prada Cup |
Yachts | |
Sail no. | Boat name |
ITA–45 | Luna Rossa |
ITA–48 | Luna Rossa |
ITA–74 | Luna Rossa |
ITA–80 | Luna Rossa |
ITA–86 | Luna Rossa |
ITA–94 | Luna Rossa |
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, originally named Prada Challenge, then Luna Rossa Challenge, is an Italian sailboat racing syndicate first created to compete for the 2000 America's Cup. It won the Louis Vuitton Cup on its first attempt in 2000, but then lost the America's Cup match against the defending champion team, Team New Zealand.
Luna Rossa challenged again for the 2003 America's Cup but was knocked out in the semi-finals stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup. In the 2007 America's Cup, held in Valencia, Spain, the team reached the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup but was again defeated by Team New Zealand.
When the competition moved to AC72 catamarans for the 2013 America's Cup, held in San Francisco, Luna Rossa was the last team to challenge, entering a partnership with Team New Zealand. The Italian team reached the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, losing to the Kiwi team. While Luna Rossa planned to participate in the 2017 America's Cup, setting up a new base in Cagliari and starting development on the new boat, it withdrew from the competition in protest of the decision to switch the class of yachts to the AC50 catamaran.
After Team New Zealand won the Cup back in 2017, Luna Rossa issued their challenge for the next edition, becoming the Challenger of Record for the 2021 America's Cup; after winning the Prada Cup, it lost 7-3 against the Kiwis.
The team is owned by Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli and it is sponsored by that Italian fashion brand. Additional sponsors were Telecom Italia between 2005 and 2007 and Pirelli from 2018.