America's Cup Recon: Hydraulic issues as Italians call a AC75 time-out
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 17 Jul 03:49 PDT
Luna Rossa (ITA) - Day 11 - July 15, 2026 - Cagliari, Sardinia © Ivo Rovira
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa wrapped up the first block of training/commissioning with a session cut short due to hydraulic issues.
Francesco Bruni, a veteran of six America's Cups, and co-helm in the 2021 and 2024 events, downplayed the issues and damage from a spectacular nosedive.
"I think it was just fairing stuff, so not too hard," he said ashore after the incident. "Obviously, not something we want to do every day, but not a big problem. We sailed after that, and then we had to stop for another issue. The boat is fine. We just broke some small bits and pieces. Nothing to be worried about."
The session was conducted in light winds - mostly in the 6-7kt range - just above the minimum windspeed for racing.
The Italians had an energetic session performing 27 tacks/gybes in just 33 minutes of foiling time - a rate of close to one tack/gybe per minute.
Like Emirates Team NZ for the first ten days or so of their AC75 program, Luna Rossa finished the block with the same foil arms and wing foils as they on Sailing Day 1. the only change has been the inclusion of a second rudder, which came on for Day 9. Said to be shorter than the earlier model, the reduced length could have been a factor in today's nosedive when the rudder elevator was seen by the Recon Unit to have cleared
Bruni hinted that changes were coming, but they would be hard to spot for those outside the team.
He emphasised that the AC75's lighter weight is the biggest change from the last Cup.
"I think with the lighter boat of this Cup is going to be very different from the last Cup, and what we used to seeing," he told the Recon Unit. "I think the sails are also going to be different. Obviously, we are trying new things and learning from the boat, but the lighter boat definitely feels completely different."
Interestingly, the Luna Rossa AC75 still featured the anvil-shaped corrector weights at the juncture of the wing foils and foil arms. With the overall required weight reduction of around 500kgs required for the 2027 Cup, these weights are expected to be removed as part of the AC75's weight loss program.
From here Luna Rossa are expected to switch focus onto the AC40 training ahead of the second Preliminary Regatta to be held in Naples, over two months away. Quite how they are placed for a base in Naples is unknown, and the Italians have excellent facilities in Cagliari.
Given their outstanding performance in the first preliminary regatta in Cagliari, and the fact that they won the Youth and Womens America's Cup sailed in Barcelona in 2024, it is evident that the Italians have the right formula, and go into the event as favourites.
Luna Rossa - Day 11, July 15, 2026 - Cagliari, Sardinia.
Luna Rossa - Day 11, July 15, 2026 - Cagliari, Sardinia
Crew List:
- Port Helm: Marco Gradoni
- Starboard Helm: Peter Burling (NZL)
- Port Trimmer: Gigi Ugolini (ITA)
- Starboard Trimmer: Vittorio Bissaro (ITA)
- Pos: 5: Maria Giubilei (Port)
- Pos 6: William Brooks (Structural Engineer)
Wind & Sea Conditions:
- 1140hrs 4-6kts 140°
- 1305hrs; 6-8kts 150°
- 1355hrs: 7-9kts 145°
- Flat seas
Key times:
- Dock Out: 1130hrs
- Dock In: 1430hrs
- Time sailed: 2hrs 50 mins
- Foiling time: 33mins
- Tacks: 15; Gybes 12
Recon Unit Report: Luna Rossa - Day 11, July 15, 2026 - Cagliari, Sardinia
Rolling out at 9:10hrs, additional GoPros on the starboard wing were removed while the newest cameras on the mast were still mounted. As the boat was craned in, with the dying offshore Maestrale still blowing, the team postponed dock-out to 11:15hrs to catch the first light seabreeze.
The starting crew consisted of Marco Gradoni (helm), Gigi Ugolini (trim), and Maria Giubilei (5th) on port, and Peter Burling (helm), Vittorio Bissaro (trim), and a structural engineer, William Brooks (6th), on starboard. As the day ended up short due to a hydraulic issue, no sailor was rotated, with only Foil Designer Francisco Azevedo taking the 6th position. Before leaving the harbour, the newest mainsail, M2-1, was hoisted at 11:30hrs and paired with the newest J1-1.
The first session started at 11:55hrs with a tow-to-foil by the chase boat, and the yacht started sailing upwind in the lightest air so far, 4–6 kts from 145°, blowing over some minor remaining swell of 0.3 m from the same direction. The yacht sailed some shorter boards upwind and downwind. Manoeuvring looked very consistent, with mostly dry manoeuvres even in the lightest air.
After the first roundup, the yacht appeared with significant windward heel and cant, almost immersing the inboard half of the starboard wing while still in sailing mode. As the yacht bore away, the boat entered the first gybe from stbd to port in a very bow-down trim, and the rudder pierced the water, resulting in an impressive nosedive. The elevator was out of the water before the bow touched water.
Besides a broken wand and several fairings that had to be taped together, there was no major damage to the boat. Just as the team seemed to resume sailing, technicians gathered around the main track, resulting in another postponement due to a possible hydraulic issue, which appeared to be fixed at first.
At 13:35hrs, the boat was finally foilborne again for the second session after a tow-to-fly. After a very short flight, the yacht stopped again, and it seemed the suspected issue was not fully solved yet. Jib car, main car, and mast trims were then tested, with the usual trim vibration producing an unusually loud oscillating noise. No major issue followed, as the boat executed a self take-off at 13:48hrs with the breeze increasing to 7–9 kts.
On a couple of tacks, the board drops seemed inconsistent, as the board did not drop gradually. As the yacht bore away, several bear-aways to roundups were practiced before finally heading downwind for some gybes. Also on the final gybe, the port board seemed very canted and was not dropping gradually. Several tacks were then executed before stopping.
Sails were dropped, and the team called it a day due to a hydraulic issue.
By 14:30hrs, the boat was being towed into the harbour after approximately 33 minutes of foiling time, completing 15 tacks and 12 gybes.