The Gulf of Naples celebrated an Italian victory as Luna Rossa completed an outstanding Preliminary Regatta by defeating Emirates Team New Zealand in the final match race. Four wins from eight fleet races and 71 points underline an impressive weekend for the Italian team on the waters that will host the America’s Cup in 2027.
Update
Luna Rossa rules Naples: Team New Zealand beaten in Preliminary Regatta final
The Gulf of Naples celebrated an Italian victory as Luna Rossa completed an outstanding Preliminary Regatta by defeating Emirates Team New Zealand in the final match race. Four wins from eight fleet races and 71 points underline an impressive weekend for the Italian team on the waters that will host the America’s Cup in 2027.
🇮🇹 Another success after Cagliari
Luna Rossa has added another victory to its build-up towards the 38th America’s Cup.
Less than three months after the previous Preliminary Regatta in Cagliari, the Italian team was once again on top, this time in the waters of Naples.
Luna Rossa Senior completed the fleet-racing stage with 71 points from a possible 80, comfortably ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand on 56.
That result sent the two leading crews into the event's decisive match race.
⚔️ Luna Rossa takes control of the final
Luna Rossa established its position from the opening stages of the final.
Peter Burling and Marco Gradoni shared helming duties aboard the Italian AC40, supported by Maria Giubilei and Gianluigi Ugolini on sail trim.
Emirates Team New Zealand lined up with Nathan Outteridge and Harry Menzies.
The Italians secured their preferred side of the racecourse and gradually established control of the contest.
By the first gate Luna Rossa had built a lead of approximately ten seconds and maintained the advantage as the race developed.
After six legs, the Italian AC40 crossed the finish line first, with Emirates Team New Zealand 17 seconds behind.
🏆 Four wins from eight fleet races
The final victory completed an impressive overall performance.
Across the eight fleet races, Luna Rossa Senior recorded four wins, two second places, one third and one sixth place.
That consistency allowed the Italian crew to establish itself at the top of the standings before completing the weekend with victory over the Defender.
The Naples result also follows Luna Rossa’s success in Cagliari, although these events remain part of the preliminary phase and cannot determine how the competitive balance will look when the decisive stages begin in 2027.
⭐ Burling and Gradoni make their mark
One of the major talking points from Naples was the partnership between Peter Burling and Marco Gradoni.
The experienced New Zealand sailor and the young Italian talent formed an effective combination aboard the AC40, while Giubilei and Ugolini also delivered a strong performance on sail trim.
Final decisions over Luna Rossa's future AC75 crew are still to come, but the Naples event provided the team with valuable information ahead of the next stage of its campaign.
🌊 Luna Rossa Youth & Women
A second Luna Rossa crew also competed in Naples.
Helmsmen Gianluigi Porro and Federico Antoniazzi, together with trimmers Sara Marchesini and Margherita Santi, finished sixth in the fleet-racing standings.
The event offered another valuable opportunity for the younger generation of Italian sailors to gain experience in high-level AC40 racing.
🌍 The challengers continue their preparations
Naples also provided useful indications about the other teams preparing for the next America’s Cup.
The French La Roche-Posay team emerged as the third force of the regatta despite capsizing twice during the weekend.
The American challenger showed encouraging signs in its first competitive appearance, while the British campaign endured a more difficult event following an incident during training involving an Alinghi support boat.
However, the real competitive picture will only become clearer when the major events of 2027 begin.
❤️ Naples is already looking towards 2027
The spectacular setting of the Gulf provided the backdrop to Luna Rossa's victory, with spectators following the racing from the Naples waterfront.
The Preliminary Regatta offered the city a first taste of what lies ahead when the America’s Cup comes to Italy in 2027.
For Luna Rossa, the Naples weekend ends with an impressive set of numbers: 71 points, four fleet-race victories and a direct match-race win over defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand.
It is still only one stage on a much longer road, but it has added another layer of anticipation to the battle ahead.
Naples' first major taste of America’s Cup racing ends with Luna Rossa on top — and the Gulf already looking forward to 2027. 🇮🇹⛵🌊
FAQ
Is this official event information?
No. AC Naples 2027 is an independent visitor guide. Official information should be checked on official America's Cup channels.
