America's Cup: Some action at last - Luna Rossa sail two AC40s

Luna Rossa celebrating their 2024 Youth and Womens America's Cup win - September 26, 2025 © Luna Rossa

The Italian Challenger Luna Rossa has opened its account in the 2027 America's Cup, sailing two AC40s from the team's permanent base in Cagliari, Sardinia.

The team has released a video of two AC40s sailing from the team's permanent base in Cagliari, Sardinia. The occasion was a celebration of their wins in the Youth America's Cup on September 26, 2024, and the Womens America's Cup four days later.

Visible in the video is three-time America's Cup winner, Josh Junior, formerly with Emirates Team New Zealand. He sailed the 2024 campaign in a sailing support role and was the first of two New Zealand team members to sign up with the Italian Challenger.

Luna Rossa was the first team to sail in the period covered by the 38th America's Cup, when they sailed a single AC40 earlier this year. They have now become the first team to sail AC40s against each other in training.

To date, no other America's Cup team have sailed two AC40s in the buildup to the next America's Cup, which will be held in Naples, Italy.

The time spent by Luna Rossa, sailing the two AC40s is deducted from the 35 allowed sailing days, in AC40s specified in the Protocol for the 38th America's Cup.

The first allowed sailing period started on July 1, 2025 and runs through to the 30th June 2026. They have a second allocation of sailing days from July 1, 2026 to the start of June 30, 2027. To date it appears that a Reconnaissance Unit has not been assigned to monitor Luna Rossa.

The French team - now running under K Challenge - posted a short video of their sailing crew sailing a single AC40 - over a week ago. But as with an earlier solo session by Luna Rossa, the solo sailing time does not come off their allowed testing allocation.

Teams are not permitted to begin sailing AC75s until January 15, 2026 and have a 40 day allocation, plus bonus time until January 14, 2027.