America's Cup Recon: First Challenger gets sailing off Cagliari in fresh breeze
by Compiled by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 11 Jun 06:54 PDT
Luna Rossa - Sailing Day 1 - AC38 Recon - Luna Rossa Team - June 10, 2026 - Cagliari, Sardinia © Ivo Rovira / America's Cup
Italian America's Cup team Luna Rossa began their seventh challenge for the America's Cup with an eventful first sail in their repurposed AC75, on Wednesday evening from the team's base in Cagliari, Sardinia.
They are the first of six Challengers to sail an AC 75 in the build up to the 2027 America's Cup in Naples.
After several delays, the AC75 was splashed at 5.00pm, only to have the sea breeze die completely as they exited the harbour.
It was replaced with a fresh NW breeze, which provided some challenging conditions for the first sail of the AC75, and with the crew sailing together for the first time on an AC75.
Co-Helems for the day were the same combination that won the first Preliminary Regatta in Cagliari almost two weeks ago: Peter Burling and Ruggero Tita. However, this was the first time they had sailed an AC75 together. This was the team's first sailing day of their Protocol-defined quota of 49 days in the next six months.
The launch time was later than planned due to some inevitable breakdowns and maybe the fact that a complete boat (with rig) was not used in the tow test on May 18. As reported earlier in the week, Luna Rossa's repurposed AC75 was rigged and stress tested on Wednesday. She will sail again on Friday.
This was also the first test sail with the new battery-powered hydraulic control systems, and a few gremlins became evident during the first few minutes, with a stop after 15 minutes to allow the tech team on board the AC75. However, the team appeared to have ongoing issues with flight control, and sailed for considerable periods with two boards down - accepting the additional drag for more grip on the water, and greater control over and ride height in the seaway.
Team Director Max Sirena, who first sailed as a bowman in Luna Rosa's first America's Cup in Auckland in 2000 - where they made the Final - said "I think we are quite happy with the day, and what we achieved. We nailed everything that was in the book to tick off, so it's good."
He noted that every time the team launch a boat, there is always a fresh breeze - usually above 20kts - for the first sail, and this was no exception, with the seabreeze fading as soon as Luna Rossa left the marina and entered the Bay of Angeles.
True to the playbook, the calm was soon replaced with the 14-17kts Maestrale coming in from the NW.
Looking ahead to the upcoming America's Cup, for which Italy are just the second team to launch an AC75, Sirena said that he expected the boats to move into the same corners of the AC75 class rule, based on their experiences from Barcelona and analysis of the top teams, given that the hulls of the AC75 class can only have very minor hull shape changes.
Speaking with Michele Melis AC37 Recon, the AC38 Recon Unit member assigned to observe the Italian performance, and reporting back to other teams and media, Sirena said: "Obviously, it's going to be the third cycle of this type of boat, so like, like always in the past, after several campaigns with the same class, the gap between boats is getting closer and closer - which is great, because it means everyone is pushing pretty hard, both on the technical side and also on the sailing team, and their playbook."
"I think the next Cup in Naples is going to be an interesting Cup.
"I think we're going to see a really good match racing prestart manoeuvres, and I'm really confident everyone is going to play on that field, " he added.
Crew List:
- Port Helm: Ruggero Tita
- Starboard Helm: Peter Burling (NZL)
- Port Trimmer: Umberto Molineris (ITA)
- Starboard Trimmer: Vittorio Bissaro (ITA)
- Positions 5 & 6: Maria Giubilei (Port) & Marco Gradoni (Starboard)
Wind & Sea Conditions:
Summary: .
1835hrs Wind: 330°: 14-16kts
1925hrs Wind: 320°: 15-17kts
PM Sea State: 0.4mtr Chop
Dock Out: 1730hrs
Dock In: 2100hrs
Time sailed: 4hrs
Recon Report – 10th June 2026
After several postponements, the team rolled out the mast at 15:55hrs, followed by the boat at 16:15hrs for further debugging and decommissioning.
The usual cameras were mounted on the foils. Antennas were observed on the media post along with a forward-facing recording device. Identical devices were mounted on the spreaders, while anti-vibration hardware was installed on the shrouds.
While stepping the mast, a minor issue appeared to occur, delaying the process further.
Once rigged, the boat was craned into the water at 17:00hrs and the team rushed through the remaining procedures.
No cant tests were observed at the dock, suggesting the team had tested the FCS beforehand, possibly explained by the modified "dome" boat tend.
Dock-out was scheduled for 17:30hrs with, on port: Ruggero Tita (helm), Umberto Molineris (trim), and Maria Giubilei (5th); and on starboard: Peter Burling (helm), Vittorio Bissaro (trim), and Marco Gradoni (6th).
As the team exited the harbour, the sea breeze died completely. Cameras on the starboard wing were turned on, lidar poles were installed, and the boat was towed offshore toward Sella del Diavolo.
Sail designers had boarded the chase boats, focusing on the new mainsail, which was hoisted at 18:00hrs.
When installing the mainsheet system, a broken component delayed the team. Personnel returned to base to retrieve a spare, although it remains unclear which item had failed.
Footage was taken inside the mainsail skins from aft while the sheeting system was being rigged.
The offshore Maestrale had filled in from 330° at 14–16 knots when the J4-5 was passed onboard and hoisted.
Around 19:00hrs, the team began accelerating on two boards. During the first upwind starboard tack, the boat appeared quite unstable in both pitch and ride height, with the windward board piercing heavily.
A conservative two-board bear-away followed, leading to the team's first one-board straight-line downwind run at approximately 40–42 kts.
The first and only gybe of the day appeared slow but steady, with an extended period on two boards, leading to a two-board round-up and a stop after 14 minutes foilborne.
The breeze had increased and chop had built somewhat given the offshore location. A lengthy inspection followed over the next 20 minutes, involving personnel working below deck.
The second session began with another self-takeoff on two boards on starboard tack.
During the following 12 minutes, the boat sailed a long straight-line upwind leg on two boards, alternating between high-and-slow and VMG modes, suggesting foil testing given the mounted cameras.
Once again, the boat appeared to lack pitch and height stability, hitting the chop.
At 20:05hrs, the team stopped and the jib was dropped, followed by the mainsail.
Overall, it was a productive day for the team, with sailing scheduled to resume on Friday, the 12th.
Additional Images: