“Despite the final result, it is a victory for Italy“, says Marco Bucci, mayor of Genoa, a passionate sailor and creator of a series of initiatives that are making the “ City of the Lantern” the Italian capital of boating, such as the Ocean Race Europe next June and the finish of the next edition of round the world race in 2023. Mr. Bucci’s statement summarizes the specialness of Luna Rossa’s adventure, as a true testimonal of Made in Italy.
The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team AC75 competing in Auckland has an all-Italian design. The carbon fiber hull was built by Persico Marine, which had already built Luna Rossa boats for America’s Cup 2007 and 2013. Furthermore, Persico Marine has also built the foil arms for all teams and some of Luna Rossa rudders.
Other rudders were instead built by Eligio Re Fraschini, an Italian company (based in Legnano) specialized in the production of nautical equipment in composite materials and metal while Luna Rossa foils come from the Iseo-based headquarters of Angelo Glisoni’s company, specialized in high-tech profiles and prototypes.
Luna Rossa hydraulic equipment, instead, are by Giovanni Cariboni, the “ Wizard of hydraulics” who, with its Cariboni Srl based in Ronco Briantino, is an international point of reference in this sector. Deck equipment is by Harken that, despite its foreign name, is based in Limodo Comasco, near Como. The Pirelli Advanced Materials Department – which has supplied special equipment used on board – , instead, is based in Milan.
From Lombardy to Piedmont. In particular, Turin, where Altair Engineering, the most technologically advanced player in the world of simulation in avant-garde sectors, has designed Luna Rossa hulls and components. And then Novara, where Gottifredi Maffioli produced the ropes, sheets, halyards and all the “cordage” in special materials and with some pieces with a diameter of only 2 millimeters.
Then, Liguria, where the Carasco-based North Sails, founded by Lowel North in San Diego (USA) in 1957, designed and developed Luna Rossa sails.
Our travel continues in Veneto, where the Colceresa-based company Dainese has created the special jackets of Luna Rossa crew while helms were designed and made by Oakley, a brand of the Agordo-based Luxottica.
In addition to the Panerai watchmaker, founded in Florence in 1860 and official sponsor of the team, Luna Rossa has other Italian official suppliers: Pardo Yachts (Forlì) supplied a Pardo 38 yacht powered by three Mercury V8 300HP outboards ( Mercury Marine is among the official suppliers of the team) and two Pardo 43;
Technogym (based in Cesena) has continued in its collaboration born in 1998 with its training equipment while Promo of Corridonia (Macerata) has created the base in Auckland. Lastly, the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium of Reggio Emilia and the Ferrari Cellars of Trento with its Ferrari Maximum Blanc de Blancs Trentodoc: two international symbols of Made in Italy.
