Please select your home edition
Edition
U-DECK 2023 - No.2 728x90 TOP

Prada + OneWorld = Luna Rossa Challenge

by Cup in Europe on 26 Sep 2004
Luna Rossa, which finished second in 1999 and failed to qualify for the finals in 2003, has budgeted €85 million for the next America’s Cup Challenge.

Marco Tronchetti Provera, chairman of Telecom Italia and an avid sailor, announced at a press conference in the port city of Genoa that Italy's largest telephone company would support the Luna Rossa challenge by acquiring 49 per cent of the team from Prada.

The terms of the Telecom Italia investment were not disclosed, but it was known that the Italian telephone company would also pay an undisclosed sum as commercial sponsor to display its logos on Luna Rossa's sails. Prada's logo will be displayed on the boat hull.

Meanwhile, Francesco De Angelis, the technical director of team Luna Rossa who skippered the Prada challenge in the two last America's Cup regattas, announced James Spithill's appointment as Helmsman

The 24-year-old Australian, arrived in Italy with some of his former OneWorld Challenge's teammates.

Management:

- Carlo Corce, president (ITA)

- Marco Tronchetti Provera (ITA)

- Patrizio Bertelli (ITA, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Giancarlo Rocco di Torrepadula (ITA)

- Marco Piccinini (ITA)

- Giacomo Ovidi, General Manager (ITA, Prada
2003)

- Anthony Romano, General Manager (ITA).

Sailing Team:

- Francesco de Angelis, skipper (ITA, Prada 2000 et 2003)

- James Spithill, helmsman (AUS, Young Australia 2000, OneWorld 2003)

- Charlie McKee, tactician (USA, OneWorld 2003)

- Michele Ivaldi, navigator (ITA, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Matteo Plazzi, navigator (ITA,Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Steve Erickson, afterguard & operational manager (USA, Golden Gate Challenge 1987, Il Moro 1992, Stars and Stripes 1995, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Francesco Bruni, afterguard (ITA, Prada 2003)

- Marco Mercuriali, Coach (ITA, Azzurra 1983, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Grant Spanhake, sail coord. & sail design liaison (USA, Young America 2000, OneWorld 2003)

- Joe Newton, mainsail trimmer (AUS, Young Australia 2000, OneWorld 2003)

- Tatsuya Wakinaga, trimmer, sail vision (JPN, Nippon challenge 95 & 2000, Oneworld 2003)

- Ben Durham, trimmer (AUS, Young Australia 2000, OneWorld 2003)

- Jonathan McKee, trimmer (USA, OneWorld 2003)

- Andrew Taylor, grinder (NZL, Team NZ 95 & 2000, OneWorld 2003)

- Gilberto Nobili, grinder , (ITA, Prada 2003)

- Magnus Anguston, grinder (SWE, Victory Challenge 2003)

- Romolo Ranieri, grinder, (ITA, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Emanuale Marino, grinder, (ITA, Prada 2003)

- Vernon Neville, grinder, preparateur athlétique (NZL, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Simone de Mari , grinder, mastman (ITA, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Massimo Gherarducci, grinder, mastman (ITA, Prada 2003)

- Thomas Burnham, Pitman (USA, Young America 2000, Prada 2003)

- Alan Smith - Pitman (AUS, One Australia 95, Prada 2000, OneWorld 2003)

- Massimiliano Sirena, Mid bowman, (ITA, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Paolo Bassani, Bowman (ITA, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Andy Fethers - Bowman (AUS, Young Australia 2000, OneWorld 2003).

Design Team:
- Bruce Nelson, yacht designer (USA, Young America 95, America One 2000, OneWorld 2003)

- Roberto Biscontini, yacht Designer (ITA, Azzurra 1987, Il Moro 92, Young America 1995 et 2000, Oracle 2003)

- Claudio Maletto, yacht designer (ITA, Il Moro 92, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Miguel Costa, technical coordinator & deck designer (ARG, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Winfried M. Feifel, appendages design manager (USA, AmericaOne 2000, OneWorld 2003)

- Guido Cavalazzi, sail design manager (ITA, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Scott Ferguson, mast design manager (USA, Team DC 1995, Young America 2000, Prada 2003)

- Giorgio Provinciali, tank testing manager (ITA, Prada 2003)

- Mario Caponnetto, performance analyse manager (ITA, Il Moro 92)

- Ian Campbell, tank testing (GBR, GBR Challenge 2003)

- Evan Spong - Performance Analyst (AUS)

- Andrea Avaldi - Structural Design (ITA, Prada 2000 & 2003)

- Luca Donna - Structural Design (ITA, Prada 2003)

- Paolo Periotto - Development coordinator (ITA, Prada 2003)

- Henrik Soderlund - sail designer (DEN, Le Défi 2003)

Administation/shore team:

- Bruno Finzi, public relations (ITA)

- Paolo Martinoni, communication manager (ITA)

- Antonio Marrai, logistic & shore team manager (ITA, Prada 2003)

- Richard Gilles, boat building manager (Desafio 2000, Oracle 2003).
McDYachts_Pyewacket-for-Sale_1456x180 BOTTOMSwitch One DesignPantaenius 2022 - SAIL & POWER 1 FOOTER NZ

Related Articles

America's Cup: Big day for 38th Cup
Friday October 17, was a big day for the America's Cup in NZ. Friday October 17, was a big day for the America's Cup - when the Defender went sailing for the first time in the new Cup cycle; the Kiwis announced four new team members; Grant Dalton and Ben Ainslie explained more on the new America's Cup Partnership.
Posted today at 3:55 am
Emirates Team NZ rounds out sailing team
Emirates Team NZ team are back out sailing with their AC40 from their home base in Auckland. Almost a year to the day since Emirates Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup the team are back out sailing with their AC40 from their home base in Auckland.
Posted today at 1:02 am
Transat Café L'or fleet has mustered in Le Havre
148 skippers, 74 boats, 4 classes At nine days before the start of the 17th edition of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie, all the skippers have now arrived in Le Havre, marking the start of the festivities.
Posted on 16 Oct
IFCA Fin & Foil Slalom Europeans day 1
Two perfect opening days Johan Søe leads the Men's Foil ranking, while Justine Lemeteyer dominates among the women, topping both the Foil and Fin divisions. In the Men's Fin fleet, Jordy Vonk is in the lead, followed by Nicolas Prien and Malte Reuscher.
Posted on 16 Oct
Allocation of entries for the 29er Worlds in Kiel
All countries will be allocated a minimum of three entries The 29er Class has not restricted entries for the World or European Championships in the past but due to the expected popularity of the Worlds in 2026 in Kiel we feel it is necessary to do an Entry Allocation. This is very difficult to do fairly.
Posted on 16 Oct
Exiting new product for METS
A+T Instruments is proud to be supplying instruments for some of the most advanced yachts The marine world gathers at METS in Amsterdam. A+T is proud to be supplying instruments for some of the most advanced new-build yachts. Watch the video to see how we can help you with your next project.
Posted on 16 Oct
A Day at the Allen Factory!
New and innovative products, cutting-edge manufacturing techniques The Allen factory, based in Southminster, Essex in the UK, makes many of the deck hardware and fittings that we use in our sailing, be that on dinghies or keelboats.
Posted on 16 Oct
2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final day 2
The battle intensifies as the world's best close in on the crown Perfect trade-wind conditions returned to Ho'okipa today for Day 2 of the 2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final, delivering a full day of 5 Star competition as both the men's and women's draws charged toward Finals Day.
Posted on 16 Oct
Fireball World Champion interview
Yves Mermod and Maja Siegenthaler talk about their Olympic journey too After their close fought win at the Fireball Worlds in Garda we caught up with the Champions Yves Mermod and Maja Siegenthaler to find out a bit more about their Olympic journey and why and how they ended up competing for a Fireball Worlds in 2025.
Posted on 16 Oct
Sam Haynes eyes third Rolex Sydney Hobart win
The CYCA Commodore and defending champion will return for the race's 80th edition Sam Haynes, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) and defending Overall champion of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, will return for the race's 80th edition.
Posted on 16 Oct