| Azzurra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Career | |
| Yacht club |  Yacht Club Costa Smeralda |
| Established | 1982 |
| Nation |  Italy |
| Team principal(s) | Riccardo Bonadeo |
| Skipper | Cino Ricci |
| Notable victories | Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d’Azur |
| Yachts | |
| Sail no. | Boat name |
Azzurra is a yacht racing team that competed in the America's Cup, the Audi MedCup and the 52 Super Series for the Italian Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
Funded by business magnate Aga Khan IV and industrialist Gianni Agnelli, and managed by businessman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Azzurra began to compete in 1982. They competed in the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup in Newport with Azzurra (I–4), but were not able to advance to the 1983 America's Cup. Aircraft manufacturer Ambrosini was involved in the construction of the yachts. Skippered by Cino Ricci and with Mauro Pelaschier at the helm, the original Azzurra team won 24 of 49 races and developed a large and loyal following in Italy.
After finishing fifth in the 1985 World Championships with Azzurra II (I–8) Azzurra financed the construction of two more boats for the 1987 America's Cup, Azzurra III (I–10) and Azzurra IV (I–11), and competed also in the 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup reaching the round robins stage.
In 2009 and 2010, the team sailed for the Louis Vuitton Trophy, and was relaunched for the Audi MedCup and the 52 Super Series.
The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy and the other from the yacht club that is challenging for the cup. Matches are held several years apart on dates agreed between the defender and the challenger. There is no fixed schedule, but the races have generally been held every three to four years. The most recent America's Cup match took place in March 2021.
The Louis Vuitton Cup was the name of the Challenger Selection Series sailing competition from 1983, named after its sponsor, Louis Vuitton. The winner of the competition became the challenger to compete with the defender of the America's Cup. The competition for the 2017 America's Cup changed format and name to the Louis Vuitton Challenger’s Trophy. The following series, in 2021, was named the Prada Cup after its new sponsor. Five out of the nine winners of the Louis Vuitton Cup competitions subsequently won the America's Cup itself.
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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.
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Mascalzone Latino is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Club Nautico di Roma.
The 2nd Louis Vuitton Cup was held in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1987. The winner, Stars & Stripes, went on to challenge for and win the 1987 America's Cup.
The Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland was the second in a scheduled series of regattas that compete for the Louis Vuitton Trophy. The regatta was held in Auckland between 7–21 March 2010. The Louis Vuitton Trophy format uses existing International America's Cup Class yachts loaned to the regatta by various America's Cup racing syndicates, keeping costs low for the competing teams.
The Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena was the third in a scheduled series of regattas that compete for the Louis Vuitton Trophy. The regatta occurred in La Maddalena between 22 May - 6 June 2010. The Louis Vuitton Trophy format uses existing International America's Cup Class yachts loaned to the regatta by various America's Cup racing syndicates, keeping costs relatively low for the competing teams.
The 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup was held in Newport, Rhode Island, United States in 1983. The winner, Australia II, went on to challenge for the 1983 America's Cup.
Phillip Edward "Ed" Baird is an American sailor. He was a coach of the 1995 America's Cup-winning Team New Zealand and a helmsman for the 2007 America's Cup-winning Alinghi syndicate.
Francesco "Checco" Bruni is a professional sailor from Italy, together with James Spithill, helmsman of Luna Rossa during the America's Cup 2021.
Azzurra is a 12-metre class yacht that competed in the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup.
The 52 Super Series is a high-performance, monohull yacht racing circuit.
Vasco Vascotto is an Italian sailor who has won 25 World Championships titles which is believed to be the most of any sailor. Although he started as a dinghy sailor his professional career has focused on yachts. He won the Admirals Cup in 1999 and then sailed with Mascalzone Latino as skipper and tactician competing in the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007 the challenger series for the America's Cup.
Dean Phipps is a New Zealand sailor who has competed in eight America's Cups.
Cino Ricci is an Italian yachtsman, he was skipper of Azzurra at the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup and 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup.
Since the 1980s, Italy has been a serious challenge contender for the America's Cup. Italian teams have won the Challenger Selection Series three times: the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1992 with Il Moro di Venezia, in 2000 with Luna Rossa and the Prada Cup in 2021, again with Luna Rossa.