Luna Rossa teams on day 2 of the Preliminary Regatta Sardinia
by Luna Rossa Challenge 24 May 00:37 BST
22-24 May 2026
Luna Rossa, La Roche-Posay Racing Team at the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup Preliminary Regatta - Day 2 © David Maynard /
www.alleycatphotographer.com
A packed Saturday both on shore and on the water in Cagliari for the second and penultimate day of the Preliminary Regatta Sardinia.
Weather conditions were less demanding than yesterday, but far from easy: the steady 14-knot breeze in the opening race gradually eased throughout the afternoon, making racing particularly challenging for the crews, who struggled to keep the boats in foiling mode.
Three very different races were contested, requiring versatility, adaptability, and constant focus from all teams on the water. At the end of six races, both Luna Rossa teams remain at the top of the provisional standings on the eve of tomorrow's final.
RACE #04
An excellent race for Luna Rossa 2, which showed strong confidence in both the boat and the conditions in the Gulf of Angels right from the start. The Principal team handled maneuvers with confidence even in the day's unstable breeze, demonstrating strong control of the racecourse. Throughout the race, the Italian and New Zealand Principal teams were engaged in continuous crossings and position changes. The boats remained extremely close all the way to the finish line, which Luna Rossa crossed in second place, just two seconds behind. After dropping off the foils just seconds before the start, Luna Rossa 1 fought back, maintaining composure and concentration while reading the wind and its rivals effectively. The result was a strong recovery and a fourth-place finish, allowing the team to retain the provisional lead in the standings.
Luna Rossa 1: 4th place (+7 points)
Luna Rossa 2: 2nd place (+9 points)
RACE #05
A highly complex race, marked by lighter breeze across the racecourse, which forced the crews to maneuver with great precision to maintain stable foiling conditions. Unfortunately, the Italian boats were also affected by sudden drops in pressure, which disrupted positions and caused continuous lead changes. Still, the two Italian boats completed the race in second place (LR 1) and fourth place (Luna Rossa 2).
Luna Rossa 1: 2nd place (+9 points)
Luna Rossa 2: 4th place (+7 points)
RACE #06
Another outstanding race for both Luna Rossa teams, despite difficult weather conditions, with light and inconsistent breeze across the racecourse. Throughout the race, the Italian crews were excellent at keeping the boats in stable foiling mode while managing their rivals, carefully avoiding disturbed air from competing sails in a constant tactical battle. Luna Rossa 1, in particular, managed to match the New Zealanders all the way to the final leg, overtaking the Defender just meters from the finish line. It was also another strong performance from Luna Rossa's Principal team, which closed out another solid race in third place.
Luna Rossa 1: 1st place (+10 points)
Luna Rossa 2: 3rd place (+8 points)
"There was strong breeze and waves in the first race, a scenario similar to yesterday," said Marco Gradoni. "Unfortunately, at the start we gybed into an area with no wind and came to a stop. But we did a great job — really, all of us — recovering some important points. The other two races were difficult because there was much less wind and, especially in the last one, we did a really good job of staying in the game until the end and then pulling it off.
"In these conditions, it's crucial not to drop off the foils and to stay focused. You can't afford to make mistakes, because if you got a maneuver wrong today, you lost the race. It's important to stay sharp, read the racecourse well, and always try to stay on the right side of the course. It wasn't an easy day, and I'm pleased because it could have gone worse. We did well."
"Three different races, three great contests, and difficult, highly technical conditions," said Horacio Carabelli, Design Director of Luna Rossa. "The Youth and Women's teams had another very positive day, including a race win, while the Principal team sailed very well and moved into third place in the standings. Tomorrow's final is shaping up to be very interesting."
The Luna Rossa crews racing today:
Luna Rossa 1 - Y&W
Marco Gradoni (helmsman)
Margherita Porro (helmswoman)
Maria Giubilei (trimmer)
Giovanni Santi (trimmer)
Luna Rossa 2 - Team Principal
Peter Burling (helmsman)
Ruggero Tita (helmsman)
Vittorio Bissaro (trimmer)
Umberto Molineris (trimmer)