Luna Rossa has reshuffled its sailing squads ahead of the second Preliminary Regatta in Naples, with fresh faces stepping into the senior line-up.
There's a changing of the guard among the seniors. Trimmer Vittorio Bissarro has not been named in the squad, with Gianluigi "Gigi" Ugolini stepping into his place. Ugolini was co-helm with Gradoni when the pair won the Youth America's Cup in Barcelona in 2024.
Maria Giubilei has also made the senior team, having been seen in the fifth-person role aboard the Italian team's AC75.
Umberto Molineris, one of the most experienced trimmers in the Cup, is included, along with double Olympic gold medallist Ruggero Tita, who co-helmed at the first Preliminary Regatta in Sardinia in May. It's a strong squad, and one with its sights firmly set on victory in Naples.
The Luna Rossa Women & Youth team, now named Luna Rossa 2, boasts an equal abundance of talent. Women's America's Cup winner Margherita Porro leads the team, with a choice of co-helms between Massimiliano "Max" Antoniazzi, Lorenzo Sirena and Maria Vittoria Marchesini, who can also trim.
Giovanni Santi, the winning trimmer from Sardinia, returns, while Alice Linussi, part of the winning Women's America's Cup team from 2024, also makes the cut.
In a press announcement, Luna Rossa stated: "In keeping with a sporting approach consolidated over the years, the athletes have been rotated to give everyone the opportunity to compete on board the AC40s, while allowing younger talents to gain valuable time on the water and integrate with the rest of the crew."
With this depth of talent on show, Naples promises to be a fascinating test of just how far Luna Rossa's squad has come.
