With the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta, Sardinia now well in focus with the event getting underway on Thursday May 21st, 2026, with practice racing before the real thing starts on May 22nd through to the Sunday Grand Final on May 24th, Luna Rossa took advantage of near-perfect conditions to get some expected two-boat practice racing in.
We can expect fast and incredibly close racing in Sardinia with eight crews on the starting-line representing five of the teams entered for the America’s Cup. The ‘Road to Naples’ starts in Sardinia with Emirates Team New Zealand, the defenders, GB1, the Challenger of Record and Luna Rossa all fielding both a principle team as well as one extra AC40 featuring sailors from their Women & Youth teams. Tudor Team Alinghi from Switzerland and La Roche Posay Racing Team from France will field just one boat each at the regatta, representing their principle team sailors.
Unfortunately for the Italian team – very much the ‘home favourites’ with a fabulous base complex on the Molo Ichnusa in Cagliari – the day didn’t turn out as expected with one of the AC40’s stopping sailing soon after leaving the dock with an unexplained issue. After just over an hour on standby outside the port of Cagliari, it returned to the harbour without sails and was towed back by the support RIB.
Only one boat remained on the water, carrying out starting practice together with several upwind and downwind runs in front of the Sant’Elia promenade, exactly where one of the race areas is expected to be located. Conditions were stunning with 12 knots of breeze, flat and crystal blue water, sunshine and clear blue skies – the perfect advert for Sardinia, one of the most beautiful sailing waters in the world.
On board the AC40 that completed the day of training was Olympic double gold medallist Ruggero Tita with ace trimmer and America’s Cup veteran Umberto Molineris on the port side, whilst Youth America’s Cup winner from 2024, Rocco Falcone joined up with two-time America’s Cup trimmer Vittorio Bissaro on the starboard side.
Sardinia is getting ready to welcome the world as the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup roars back to racing. The Island is ready, the sailors are into their final checks, who will win out come the Grand Final is the hottest debate in sailing right now. Be there.
Photos courtesy of Antonello Ciabatti
