The first to take possession of an area were the British GB1: of the challengers Ian Walker, managing director of GB1, arrived in Bagnoli to sign the documentation necessary to start the works
Bagnoli, the area chosen for the bases of the seven teams of the next America’s Cup – which will be held in July 2027 in Naples – is starting to move. The first to take possession of an area were the British GB1, the Challenger of Record, i.e. the representative of the challengers Ian Walker, CEO of GB1, arrived in Bagnoli to sign the documentation necessary to start the works. Meanwhile, the team’s first trucks have also arrived, carrying the base material used during the Barcelona 2024 campaign. Looking out over the crystal clear waters in front of the teams’ future bases, Walker said: “It’s only when you get here, see 14 knots of breeze and an amazing view that you realize how spectacular the next Louis Vuitton America’s Cup will be. Everything is absolutely perfect and now it’s up to our team to make the project a reality.” GB1, as Challenger of Record and winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2024, will be based alongside trophy holders Emirates Team New Zealand. The other teams will be located, as required by the event protocol, to the east of the Defender and Challenger of Record bases, with arrivals expected in the coming weeks as the areas are made available.
first training sessions
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The America’s Cup logbook also records the first official day of training for Luna Rossa, in Cagliari, with the AC 75 of the latest edition which underwent technical changes according to the new regulations. The official note reports that “the session was characterized by continuous stops and starts, short flights followed by long ones with technicians coming on board to check that everything was working correctly. The maneuvers were carried out with caution and with both side arms lowered to ensure stability”. There was no shortage of speed: the new ‘Silver Moon’ reached an externally estimated speed of 40-42 knots in the first real test, and the team is certainly optimistic about the work done to adapt to the new rules. Of note is the crew with Peter Burling and Ruggero Tita as helmsmen, supported by trimmers Umberto Molineris and Vittorio Bissaro. Then Maria Giubilei in the fifth position on the left as the pink quota – mandatory – and Marco Gradoni in the starboard position, for a total of six people on board during the session. In the official regattas there will still be five sailors, while the sixth will be a guest. The Naples regatta is a year away but the choices of technical director Max Sirena on this first line-up are still to be kept in mind.
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