America's Cup: Luna Rossa tow tests in Cagliari
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 19 May 13:30 BST
Luna Rossa (ITA) launches and tow tests - Cagliari, Sardinia - May 20, 2026 © Luna Rossa Recon
Italian America's Cup Challenger Luna Rossa took to the waters off Cagliari, Sardinia, to become the second team to launch for the 2027 America's Cup in Naples.
Other than the addition of wingfoil cameras (see close ups in video) to check flow and signs of cavitation, there were no obvious changes.
The Italian team opted for one long run out and back with notable focus on the new electronic systems controlling the foil cant arms alongside rudder pitch angles. The recon team covering the tow test confirmed, saying: “The team rolled out B3 for decommissioning with a new paint job on the arms and stocks and some minor modifications were noted on the arm stocks including a shorter torpedo. Several cameras with previously tested housings were mounted: Two on port wing and four on the starboard wing (including two GoPros), suggesting additional local focus.”
“At the dock, the team carried out several board-rises involving sailors, along with checks by personnel below deck. After dock-out at 1800, B3 was towed for approximately 20 minutes at various speeds of 25, 30, and 32 knots. Different rudder rakes were tested for pitch variation, along with various cant angles to alter immersed wing amount. Increased piercing on the starboard wing was noticed. By 1900, the team had docked and lifted the boat out of the water. Sailing is scheduled to resume next week for the first official sailing day.”
The teams are only permitted to sail AC75 hulls from the 2024 or 2021 America's Cups, and outwardly, there is no change in appearance on the Italian boat.
Internally, there is a substantial change as the class shifts from manual to battery power to provide pressure for hydraulic control systems. Teams will also have changed their systems so that a single button press triggers many automated adjustments across other control systems. Team Australia skipper Tom Slingsby revealed in a recent interview that initiating the process to lower a foil arm would automatically trigger a train of 17 other adjustments.
It is expected that Luna Rossa will go through a similar commissioning process to that followed earlier by Emirates Team New Zealand, where they begin the process using legacy gear - meaning components that were aboard an AC75 any time it was launched in the 37th America's Cup cycle.
The immediate task will be to calibrate and check systems, and get the AC75 into a state where its test data can be compared with that from the last America's Cup cycle.
New recruit, co-helmsman Peter Burling is expected to share the helming duties with Marco Gradoni - representing a complete changeout of the afterguard from the 2024 Challenger Selection Series, when Luna Rossa were beaten by INEOS Britannia in the Challenger Final. It is not known if a second recruit from Emirates Team NZ, Josh Junior, will sail on the AC75 or will continue his ETNZ role as a coach.
Gradoni (22yrs) was the skipper of the winningLuna Rossa Youth Team in the 2024 Youth America's Cup.
Practice racing in the AC40s is getting underway in Cagliari. Official practice racing is scheduled for Thursday, starting at 1315hrs local time. Racing in the three-day series starts Friday, with three fleet races scheduled on Friday and Saturday starting at 1315hrs. Two fleet races are scheduled for Sunday, with the top two boats overall advancing to a Final Match Race scheduled to start at 1634hrs local time.
Racing will be live and free-to-air on YouTube, as well as on terrestrial broadcasters.
Eight teams are entered in the regatta, which will be sailed in AC40s. The two newest teams, Australia and the USA, will not be competing this weekend.
The second Preliminary Regatta was scheduled to be held in late June in Naples, but has been postponed for unspecified reasons.