The vice president of Luna Rossa: “I try to collect my father Patrizio’s wishes and pass them on to the team, which is like a family”
From Barcelona 2024 to today Giulio Bertelli, vice president of Luna Rossa has become a point of reference for the entire team. And in Cagliari, during the preliminary regattas of the 38th edition of the America’s Cup, he did not miss his presence.
Bertelli, next year it will be 30 years since Luna Rossa’s first participation in the America’s Cup. He was 6 years old then, going to primary school. What involved you so much, beyond the family aspect, compared to the first experience you had as an observer
“The love for the sea. Since I was a child I have loved sailing. Then my father decided to carry on this adventure of the America’s Cup campaigns and I was immediately captured, fascinated. I spent more and more time with him within this team and over time, in a very natural way, I began to care more and more about this project of which I am an active part”.
Did victories or defeats have more influence on your love for the America’s Cup?
“The fact that we have always come close to the final victory identifies this team. It has conveyed a great hunger and desire to all the professionals like Sirena who have dedicated themselves to this project for years. And the same goes for me. Perhaps if the great result had arrived immediately the team would not have this longevity and such a long-term vision.”
Giulio Bertelli
Vice President Luna Rossa
Born in Milan on 5/5/1990. Son of Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada, in Luna Rossa since 2013. In 2025 director and screenwriter with Agon.
What contribution do you make to the team?
“I have always known the America’s Cup because I grew up there, first as a child and then as an adult. I try to collect the wishes of my father (Patrizio Bertelli, ed.) and then pass them on to the team”.
His father often spoke of “obsession”. Do you also experience this feeling regarding the America’s Cup?
“It’s clear that for me and my family this game has something very special: you find it very hard to shake it off, especially when you’re involved. It creates a very special bond. If you love sailing you want to do the America’s Cup.”
Even in this America’s Cup campaign in Luna Rossa you can perceive the concept of family…
“It’s beautiful. It’s the thing that perhaps we have ingrained more than any other team. Starting from the family of which I am part and the owner, up to the people who work for Luna Rossa: we are an extended family with thirty years of history. It’s something we all believe in.”
Barcelona 2024 was the most disappointing campaign in our history
2024 was a difficult time for Luna Rossa. How did you restart after Barcelona?
“It was the most disappointing campaign in our history. We were coming from the Auckland edition where we had come close to success with one of the most innovative boats in history. In Barcelona it didn’t go as we thought and at that moment many people involved could have wavered: it was a strong disappointment because on the eve there was the feeling of having the qualities to achieve the goal but during the competition the other teams grew, but we didn’t.”
Enthusiasm for the 2027 event is growing in Italy. Do you feel the pressure?
“It’s nice, but it’s very strange to be able to race at home even though we’re not the ones defending the Cup. For sure, we’re starting to feel that warmth that we hope will help us reach the finish line.”
Is Gradoni the Antonelli or the Sinner of Italian sailing?
“I understand the comparison that conveys the idea. Marco isn’t a surprise for us: it’s cold and at 40 knots it’s not easy. He’s a very strong young man like Kimi and Jannik who can win the America’s Cup.”
What do you expect from this America’s Cup campaign?
“It may seem banal but it’s winning. Apart from the 2013 San Francisco edition with the Ac72 where we were all aware that it would be a transition edition for us, in the other participations we have always gone to sea for the title”.
Starting from the same project as three years ago, how can the gap with New Zealanders be reduced?
“They were superior to everyone in controlling the systems inside the boat. So having a sailor like Peter Burling will help us transfer a lot of knowledge to the team. Now we can work on the sails, the control systems and the hydraulic systems. The boat will change.”
What can Peter Burling’s arrival convey?
“He is a perfectionist who always tries to raise the bar of the boat’s performance. He has the skills to try to transform an idea or a sensation to transmit to the engineers in order to make the boat go even faster”.
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