Who will be the young talents of Luna Rossa? Open selections, here’s how they happen

The Next Generation project in the last America’s Cup in Auckland had been one of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli‘s workhorses, with Max Sirena pushing hard for a gradual rejuvenation of the team. The result was a team with some experienced “senators” such as the various Spithill, Bruni, and some younger but already established athletes such as Tesei, Molineris, Plazzi, and Voltolini. However, the program to bring young recruits into the team is now at a turning point.

Luna Rossa Youth Camps

The format of the new America’s Cup includes the Youth America’s Cup, as well as the Women’s Cup, reserved for Under 25s, in the wake of the Next Generation project Luna Rossa thus opens to new generations of sailors, those who could also write the team’s future. An operation that has already begun a few months ago with the official inclusion of multiple Optimist World Champion Margo Gradoni, who will participate in the Camps, and is very likely to be the helmsman of the Italian AC 40 for the Youth America’s Cup.

The induction of new recruits is taking place in Cagliari with a number of selection events, Youth Camps, aboard Persico 69F foilers, the first has already started and will close on February 5 and the second is scheduled for February 6-12. Invitations to these selections were for more than 20 young athletes (girls and boys) drawn from Olympic and foil classes. The best of the Camps will participate in two stages of the 69F Youth Foiling Gold Cup circuit.

The vision of Max Sirena

Strongly desired by Skipper and Team Director Max Sirena, these Camps were born with an eye toward the Youth America’s Cup (which will be raced aboard the AC40 monotypes), but more generally, they are meant to be a point of observation on the sailing of the future.

leggi anche

ARC Rally 2025 speaks Italian: here are all the winners

“Youth Camps are not only about monitoring and training the kids from a technical and sailing point of view,” says Sirena, “but also serve to frame them from a human aspect, taking into consideration their aptitude for teamwork, team building, and interpersonal relationships. Our aim, in fact, is not only to select the best sailors for the Youth America’s Cup in Barcelona, although of course that is one of the goals, but also to look at the future of the team-which could grow and be enriched with new resources in the various departments-and, in general, to bring very young people closer to the “flying” discipline. If foiling is the sailing of the future, these kids are the future of sailing.”

Luna Rossa Youth Camp – Coaches include Francesco Marrai

Coordinator of the Luna Rossa Youth Camp project is Jacopo Plazzi, one of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli’s coaches (together with Philippe Presti and Hamish Willcox), who will be supported by two highly experienced trainers, both in the traditional Olympic Classes and in the new foiling boats: Francesco Marrai and Simone Salvà.

Marrai, an immensely talented laserist who has long had to give up competitive sailing, will bring his winning mentality and trained technique to Olympic classes, while Simone Salvà the vision of a foil class specialist. At their side will be Marco Mercuriali, rule advisor of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli since the Italian team’s first challenges and among the top experts on America’s Cup regulations.