(Cagliari 27 May 2023) More than twenty years after the historic meeting in New Zealand, Nave Amerigo Vespucci e Red Moon, the Navy sailing ship and the team that will represent Italy at the 37th America’s Cup, they crossed their bows again.
In 2002, in fact, while Red Moon Prada Pirelli was preparing to dispute its second America's Cup in Auckland (with the monohull belonging to the America's Cup Class), the Navy training ship stopped in the New Zealand city during its first circumnavigation of the globe. On that occasion, in front of thousands of fans and televisions connected to follow the oldest event in the history of the sport, the two boats met in the Hauraki Gulf.
Today, to celebrate the anniversary of the meeting between two ambassadors of Italy in the world, the prototype of the team Red Moon Prada Pirelli sailed side by side with the Navy training ship in the waters in front of the Ichnusa pier in Cagliari.
"Crossing the Vespucci is always exciting"Max Sirena said, skipper e team director di Red Moon Prada Pirelli. "Luna Rossa and the training ship of the Navy are two icons of Italian sailing and despite the differences in terms of age, typology and conception, they respond to the same laws of the sea and the wind. The first time we met in Auckland, during the 31st edition of the Cup Today, after more than 20 years, we have gathered at our base in Cagliari for another sailing together and to wish each other 'good luck', in view of two important events that are now forthcoming: the 37th America's Cup for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and around the world for the Vespucci".
"I wish Luna Rossa fair winds and calm seas for the next challenge", declares the ship's commander Vespucci, vessel captain Luigi Romagnoli: "The Navy and Luna Rossa are preparing for two challenges that have their roots in the myth of seafaring, the tour of the world and the America's Cup. We will face them on two extremely different but equally unique vessels, the Amerigo Vespucci and the America's Cup boat of the Luna Rossa team. We share the same dedication, professionalism and team spirit, as well as respect for the sea and its rules. The Vespucci crew will undoubtedly cheer for them.".
Some Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailors embarked on the Vespucci and, under the orders of the commander, vessel captain Luigi Romagnoli, they experienced the charm of traditional navigation, where maneuvers are still conducted in the manner of XNUMXth century vessels of the line.
After the celebratory event, the prototype returned to the hangar to prepare for the next few days of navigation, while the Vespucci, after the stop in the port of Cagliari, he will go back to sea in view of the world tour (departure 1 July 2023) which 21 years after the one that took him to New Zealand, will take his crew and his students to 32 different destinations on 5 continents for a total duration of 20 months, combining the traditional training activity with the cooperation and promotion of the country's image, the excellence of the Made in Italy and its flagship products.
