Italy at the America's Cup

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Luna Rossa's AC75 training in Cagliari in 2019. Luna-rossa-prada-pirelli-vela.jpg
Luna Rossa's AC75 training in Cagliari in 2019.

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. [1]

Contents

Italy thus took on the official role of challenger and gained the right to challenge the defender in America's Cup. However, it was defeated on all three occasions. [2]

Italy in the Challenger Selection Series

Italy first participated in the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup with the yacht Azzurra . Since then, at least one Italian syndicate has entered every edition of the challenger selection series (known as Louis Vuitton Cup from 1983 to 2013 and in 2024, Prada Cup in 2021), except for the 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup. While Luna Rossa Challenge had originally entered the 2017 Louis Vuitton Cup, it withdrew in protest when the class of boats for the competition was changed without unanimous consent of all participants.

In three occasions, multiple Italian teams entered in the same year: two in the 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup, two in the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup and three in the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup.

Three Italian yachts ever won the challenger selection series, earning the right to challenge for the America's Cup: Il Moro di Venezia in 1992, Luna Rossa in 2000 and Luna Rossa again in 2021.

YearVenueYachting clubBoatSkipperResultWinnerNotes
1983 Flag of the United States.svg Newport Burgee of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.svg  Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Azzurra
(12 Metre I-4)
Cino Ricci 3rd Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia II
1987 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fremantle Burgee of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.svg  Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Azzurra III
(12 Metre I-11)
Cino Ricci 11th Flag of the United States.svg Stars and Stripes 87
Burgee of yc italiano.svg  Yacht Club Italiano Italia
(12 Metre I-7)
Flavio Scala and Aldo Migliaccio7th
1992 Flag of the United States.svg San Diego Burgee of compagnia della vela.svg  Compagnia della Vela Il Moro di Venezia V
(IACC ITA-25)
Paul Cayard Winner
1995 Flag of the United States.svg San Diego No Italian team entered the 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup
2000 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Burgee of yc punta ala.svg  Yacht Club Punta Ala Luna Rossa
(IACC ITA-45)
Francesco de Angelis Winner
2003 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Burgee of yc punta ala.svg  Yacht Club Punta Ala Luna Rossa
(IACC ITA-74)
Francesco de Angelis Semifinalist Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Alinghi
Burgee of rycc savoia.png Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia Mascalzone Latino
(IACC ITA-72)
Paolo Cian9th
2007 Flag of Spain.svg Valencia Burgee of yc italiano.svg  Yacht Club Italiano Luna Rossa
(IACC ITA-94)
Francesco de Angelis Finalist Flag of New Zealand.svg Team New Zealand
Burgee of rycc savoia.png Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia Mascalzone Latino
(IACC ITA-99)
Vasco Vascotto 6th
Burgee of Circolo Vela Gargnano.svg Circolo Vela Gargnano +39 Challenge
(IACC ITA-85)
Luca Devoti 9th
2013 Flag of the United States.svg San Francisco Burgee of circolo della vela sicilia.png  Circolo della Vela Sicilia Luna Rossa
(AC72)
Max Sirena Finalist Flag of New Zealand.svg Team New Zealand
2017 Flag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda Luna Rossa entered the 2017 Louis Vuitton Challenger's Trophy but then withdrew in protest.
2021 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Burgee of circolo della vela sicilia.png  Circolo della Vela Sicilia Luna Rossa
(AC75)
Max Sirena Winner
2024 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona Burgee of circolo della vela sicilia.png  Circolo della Vela Sicilia Luna Rossa
(AC75 v2.0)
Max Sirena Finalist Flag of the United Kingdom.svg INEOS Britannia

Italy in the America's Cup match

Three Italian yachts earned the right to challenge for the America's Cup: Il Moro di Venezia in 1992, the first team from a non-English speaking nation to do so, Luna Rossa in 2000 and Luna Rossa again in 2021. In all three occasions, the Italian teams lost to the defending champion.

YearVenueChallenging clubChallengerSkipperScoreDefenderDefending ClubNotes
1992 Flag of the United States.svg San Diego Burgee of compagnia della vela.svg  Compagnia della Vela Il Moro di Venezia V
(IACC ITA-25)
Paul Cayard 1-4 America³
(IACC USA-23)
Burgee of San Diego Yacht Club.svg  San Diego Yacht Club
2000 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Burgee of yc punta ala.svg  Yacht Club Punta Ala Luna Rossa
(IACC ITA-45)
Francesco de Angelis 0-5 Team New Zealand
(IACC NZL-60)
Burgee of rnzys.svg  Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
2021 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Burgee of circolo della vela sicilia.png  Circolo della Vela Sicilia Luna Rossa
(AC75)
Max Sirena 3-7 Te Rehutai
(AC75)
Burgee of rnzys.svg  Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

See also

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References

  1. LSD (2021-02-21). "Prada Cup Final Day 4: Luna Rossa Crowned and Moves onto the America's Cup". Live Sail Die. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  2. "La storia della America's Cup" (in Italian). giornaledellavela.com. Retrieved 17 September 2019.