America’s Cup in Naples, Kiwi “boss” Matteo De Nora speaks. Our interview

Matteo De Nora is the man at the top of the defender Team New Zealand (i.e., the America’s Cup holder after the 2024 victory in Barcelona). He was the one who promoted its rebirth after the bitter defeat in San Francisco 2012. During the official presentation of the America’s Cup in Naples , our correspondent Ida Castiglioni tried to “snatch” some background on the upcoming Italian edition of the Old Pitcher. A man of few words, De Nora answered us telegraphically, but between the lines one can read some important truths.

America’s Cup. Interview with Matteo De Nora, team principal of Team New Zealand

Naples is a lucky option for the America’s Cup, and the Bay of Naples is true paradise for sailing. Did you play a role in this decision?

Why Naples. Things have a reason and a time, and in this case they coincided.

When did the team make the final decision that eventually led to a preference for Naples over Athens?

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In the very last few weeks.

Over the past few months, I, like many, had the impression that the America’s Cup was in crisis. That many had decided to give up the challenge because they were convinced that there is no chance of winning. Is this because of an extremely restrictive Protocol or because New Zealand is too strong?

Always in the America’s Cup there are tensions. That’s part of its formula and its success.

For Grant Dalton, the AC75s that participated in the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona can be quickly adapted with a few technical changes to what the new Protocol requires. Certainly the design team can redesign the deck and eliminate the accommodations of the two cyclors, but, in my opinion, the basic problem is another: changing the way power is generated by switching to batteries means throwing out many mechanical and hydraulic parts and starting from scratch in mechatronics.

Changes will vary from team to team. Everyone will try to interpret the regulations as best they can.

Grant Dalton also told me that as soon as the new Protocol is published, the challengers will be able to get construction of the new boat underway, to be ready to go on the water in September 2026.

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The time to start building a new boat is when the design team has finished making its design assumptions. Obviously the designers would like longer lead times while the team wants to start sailing as soon as possible.

It is clear that the defender has always had a distinct advantage over the challengers because its designers have had plenty of time to analyze the protocol the team intends to propose and to reason about the new formula. That seems inevitable to me.

I don’t think so, partly because the projects are shared and the timing different from the past.

Has the team already decided in which Neapolitan sailing club the Cup will stay during the selections?

No decision was made. Everything was very fast.

MSC will be one of the sponsors of the next Cup defense. Is it possible that Aponte was involved in the negotiations between Team New Zealand, the city of Naples and the government?

I don’t think so, but he certainly loves the area and is an important and indispensable presence in Naples.

Peter Burling has decided not to be the helmsman and skipper of the New Zealand boat for the next America’s Cup. What are the reasons?

Peter had asked us to participate in the America’s Cup and other sailing events at the same time; The team felt this was not possible. Preparation requires total dedication, close cooperation of the boat’s wearer with the design team. Training is continuous, and it is necessary to constantly check in the field the changes made to the components of the boat.

Can you confirm that helming New Zealand’s new AC75 will be Australian Nathan Outteridge, ETNZ’s able second helmsman in Barcelona, whom I remember well here in Naples on the AC45 Luna Rossa for the 2012 World Series?

Yes.

One of the stipulations of the Protocol is that Burling cannot be at the helm of another America’s Cup boat for the next two years. Could he instead be part of another challenger’s design team? Or, coach another team?

Yes.

What’s new on the challenger front? Americans, French and Swiss are waiting to read the new rules on the Protocol. I’ve heard that the Swedes are interested in getting in and maybe the Australians will be there. What about the British? I know Jim Ratcliffe has canceled all Ineos sponsorships in sports and Ben Ainslie is desperate for sponsors, as are the French. Is that so?

I am not aware of a Swedish challenge. Several are working to participate.

Ida Castiglioni