Luna Rossa to race in first of GC32 European Tour in Austria

by Luna Rossa Media on 28 May 2014 The Luna Rossa team, consisting of Chris Draper (helmsman), Francesco Bruni (tactician/ mainsail trimmer), Adam Minoprio (tailer), Emanuele Marino (bowman) and Pietro Sibello (coach) will participate in the first stage of the GC32 European Tour in Gmunden on Lake Traunsee, in Austria.

For five days, starting from tomorrow May 28th through June 1st, the Luna Rossa team will race against 7 other teams with some of the best sailors in the world, including Australian Tom Slingsby, strategist on Oracle Team USA during the 34th America’s Cup.

The teams will alternate onboard of the four GC32 boats provided by the organizers of the event and will compete in the fleet races. On the final day (Sunday June 1st) the top four teams in the ranking will compete in a series of match races to determine the winner of the event.

Francesco Bruni said: 'The GC32 catamarans, following the latest changes to the class, are now equipped with foils and can 'fly' on the water in only 8 knots of wind. These boats are very interesting and, at present, are the ones that most resemble the America’s Cup class boats. To sail with one-design catamarans, full foiling and on a short race course is a great workout for us in view of the 35th America’s Cup.'

Team Luna Rossa has been training in Gmunden for a few days and, last weekend, participated in the Godspeed Sailing Festival. The event involved over 100 boats belonging to different classes; the GC32 sailed by team Luna Rossa was the fastest boat, reaching a speed of over 35 knots.