America’s Cup Spy: Soldini in the Cup (?), Luna Rossa’s headoultras, Burling without shoes

If you want to know all about the America’s Cup in Barcelona and what’s happening at sea, don’t miss our Trial of the Cup and all the news in our “The Cup Newspaper” section.
But if you want to know what goes on behind the scenes of the America’s Cup circus, in the hidden corners of the bases, envies and friendships among sailors, good deeds and snubs, gossip, here you are in the right place.

America’s Cup Spy

Our Barcelona correspondent Ida Castiglioni tells you everything no one else is telling you.
Here is “Spy America’s Cup,” follow it every day!

• Spy America’s Cup, the first installment (a 100-foot Alinghi)
• Spy America’s Cup, the second installment (adieu fromage!).

Peter Burling without shoes

A few regattas ago, Peter Burling arrived at the mixed zone barefoot, his skin flushed: apparently he wears no shoes on board.
Indeed, the beating sun scorches the boats, and it is so hot on board because the crew stations are deep and the air does not spin.

At Luna Rossa’s base-and only there-they have huge aluminum ducts, which channel the cold air with which they cool the stations before the men board.

All crazy about the national sailing team

The dock-out at Luna Rossa is something impressive: the wives and children of the team’s men are now super-organized: flags, choruses, hand claps, calls, whistles, songs.

Many children, many are small, some in strollers; some older ones have their faces decorated with two colored stripes (like Native Americans in the movies) that serve as passes to enter the base.
Two days ago at the dock-out was Piergiorgio Sandri, a Roman-born journalist who moved to Barcelona a few years ago and writes for “Lavanguardia.”
He was with his two almost teenage sons and returned to the press room excited and moved by the team spirit and cohesion so evident in the team.

Soldini in the America’s Cup?

Spotted a few days ago at a small table in the little bar 30m before the busy Media Centre, where they serve natural juices, a Giovanni Soldini in top form, not least because the Ferrari project seems to be going well. Spotted the night before last at the somewhat hidden table in Port Vell part of the crew of Kookaburra, Torben Grael, Ganga Bruni, Massimo Galli, Manuel Modena.

Bruno, the headoultras of Luna Rossa

In Barcelona, the person who knows everyone who matters in the America’s Cup, foiling and racing world is Bruno Bottacini, one of the pillars of Luna Rossa Supporters (a community of fans founded by Elfo).

Bruno is a Federal Judge at the Yachting Club Torri (Torri del Benaco) on Lake Garda, which has only this season managed the World Youth Kite class, Foiling Week, the M32 European Championship, and the Windsurf Foil Youth.
Bruno, who has won so much in the Surprise class, is the historical memory of foiling, and of course of the Centomiglia del Garda and all the sailing competitions that have enlivened the lake.

Follow us for more pills, trivia and indiscretions from Barcelona in the next installment of Spy Cup.

• Spy America’s Cup, the first installment (a 100-foot Alinghi)
• Spy America’s Cup, the second installment (adieu fromage!).