America's Cup: From 1983 to 2024 through the lens of Carlo Borlenghi
by America's Cup Media 31 Aug 00:35 AEST
31 August 2025
On his 12th campaign - Carlo Borlenghi during the 36th America's Cup in Auckland - 2021 © ACE/Studio Borlenghi
Carlo Borlenghi is the go-to photographer for many of the world’s top sailing events and has covered every America’s Cup since 1983 when he was assigned to the Azzurra team for Italy’s first challenge.
Born in Bellano on the eastern shores of Lake Como, Carlo Borlenghi began his extraordinary career as a photographer taking pictures of local regattas before scooping a contract with the magazine Uomo Mare Vogue and travelling the world. Today, Carlo is the go-to photographer for many of the world’s top sailing events and has covered every America’s Cup since 1983 when he was assigned to the Azzurra team for Italy’s first challenge.
Since that first campaign where he made an indelible impression, Carlo went on to work for Italia in Fremantle in 1987, Il Moro di Venezia in San Diego in 1992, and Luna Rossa in Auckland in 2000 and 2003. He was the Official Photographer of the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia in 2007 and then worked for Alinghi in Valencia in 2010 before returning to Luna Rossa in San Francisco in 2013. In recent Cup cycles he has worked for both Luna Rossa and the event, notably being the official photographer for the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland in 2021.
Carlo’s work has been recognised frequently by awards including the 2003 Omega award for best sports photographer. In 2007 he won the Grand Prix de l’Image Course au Large – Salon Nautique de Paris 2007 and received a plaque from the Italian President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano “for his many years of intense activity in favour of the sailing world.”
In the same year Carlo exhibited at the Louis Vuitton space in Paris for the photographic exhibition Winds and Sails dedicated to the America’s Cup. Furthermore in 2012 Carlo was honoured with a solo exhibition in Paris at the Mairie du XVI Arrondissement.
Famed throughout the America’s Cup for delivering some of the most striking imagery ever captured, Carlo’s eye for detail and the perfect photograph is remarkable and his post-production is regarded as the best in the sailing world. Below is a selection of Carlo’s favourite America’s Cup photos, each sparking memories and stories he loves to share.
The Challenger's Dock - 25th America’s Cup: Newport, RI, USA – 1983
“Azzurra was the first Italian Challenger in the history of the America's Cup, and that was the reason why I went to Newport in 1983. I picked this photo, not because it’s a beautiful nautical photo but because it's representative of how different the America's Cup was in that period. This was the Challenger’s dock, and you can see all the boats sitting side by side, with no one worried about spies. Only Australia II had a keel cover that was hiding the Ben Lexcen designed winged keel. Subsequently in the next Cup in Fremantle, each team had their own base.”
The Fremantle Doctor - 26th America’s Cup: Fremantle, WA, AUS – 1987
“In Fremantle, I was the Official Photographer of the Italian challenger Italia backed by Maurizio Gucci. Fremantle was a fantastic place, even more so for us photographers. The mists of Newport were gone, and the days were sunny with big waves and big spray. The Fremantle Doctor showed up punctually every day at 1pm bringing with it great wind conditions. I will forever remember our New Year's on the streets of Fremantle.”
Red Socks Parade - 29th America’s Cup: San Diego, CA, USA – 1995
“There was no Italian challenge in this edition of the America’s Cup so instead, I was working with Paul Cayard who hired one of the old AC boats the Il Moro di Venezia, to launch the new TOD'S boat competition sports shoes. One of the most memorable memories of Team New Zealand winning the Cup was the wonderful and impressive reception in Auckland they received: the Red Socks Parade.”
Luna Rossa - 30th America’s Cup: Auckland, NZL – 2000
“I was the Official Photographer for the new Italian Challenge Luna Rossa backed by Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli. This was a very beautiful campaign from a new team that immediately stood out and won the Louis Vuitton Cup.”
Old meets New - 31st America’s Cup: Auckland, NZL – 2003
“I was the Official Photographer for Luna Rossa in Auckland. This is one of my favourite photos, the meeting of the Italian naval training ship Amerigo Vespucci with Luna Rossa on the Hauraki Gulf after six months of sailing.”
Exploring different angles - 32nd America’s Cup: Valencia, ESP – 2007
“In 2007 in Valencia I was the Official Photographer of the 32nd America's Cup, working with Michel Hodara, the brilliant head of Communications. This was one of the more interesting Cup editions for me from a photographic point of view. Michel was a volcano of ideas and encouraged you to always find different themes and ideas with your photography.”
The Comeback - 34th America’s Cup: San Francisco, CA, USA – 2013
“My memory for this Cup is of one thing: The historic comeback by Oracle Team USA in the Final against Emirates Team New Zealand. A feat like that almost felt impossible.”
The Spectacular AC75 - 36th America’s Cup: Auckland, NZL – 2021
“As the Official Photographer for the 36th America's Cup, at a time when the global pandemic was affecting Europe, I was lucky enough to spend four months in New Zealand. You couldn't ask for anything better. The new generation of AC75 was waiting to be discovered, very beautiful, very fast.”