Francesco Bruni is swapping red for red, white and blue. The Italian helmsman has left Luna Rossa to join Tudor Team Alinghi for the 38th America's Cup in Naples in 2027, a switch between rival camps that lands just as the Swiss challenger's new AC75, Boat One, prepares to arrive in the city.
Bruni joins from Luna Rossa, where he most recently held a coaching role after helming the Italian team in Barcelona in 2024. A seven-time world champion across various classes, he takes up the role of helmsman and skipper at Alinghi.
"I'm truly excited to join Tudor Team Alinghi, one of the iconic names of the America's Cup," Bruni said. "I'm eager to return to the helm and contribute to the Team's performance, and I'd like to thank Luna Rossa for allowing me to make this move. Many of my new teammates are people I know well and greatly respect, and I'm keen to start working with them."
Ernesto Bertarelli, owner of Tudor Team Alinghi, welcomed the signing.
"I'm grateful to Luna Rossa for agreeing to Francesco's transfer. He brings exceptional talent at the helm, along with an energy and enthusiasm that will lift everyone around him. I'm delighted to welcome him in the Team."
Bruni will relocate to Naples, where the team plans to begin sailing Boat One on the Golfo di Napoli from December, giving him a full season to settle into his new role before the Cup campaign builds towards 2027.
