Luna Rossa formally launch their campaign

Grand gathering at the Circolo della Vela Sicilia in Palermo

Team Luna Rossa Challenge 2013, Challenger for the 34th America’s Cup, was presented today in Mondello, Palermo, at the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, the campaign's challenging Yacht Club.

President of Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Agostino Randazzo, and the Team Principal of Luna Rossa Challenge 2013, Patrizio Bertelli, welcomed the guests, including the President of the Palermo Province, Giovanni Avanti, the President of the Italian Sailing Federation, Carlo Croce, and the Sports Delegate of the Sicily Region, Daniele Tranchida. A large group of media representatives and a delegation of the America’s Cup Event Authority were also present.

Team Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 was represented by skipper Max Sirena, helmsmen Paul Campbell-James and Chris Draper, sailors Francesco Bruni and Manuel Modena, and the designers, coaches, and other shore personnel Roberto Biscontini, Andrea Casimirri, Steve Erickson, Antonio Marrai, Umberto Panerai, Matteo Plazzi and Luis Saenz.

Agostino Randazzo, President of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, stated:”The challenge for the America's Cup is the greatest ambition for a Yacht Club. I want to thank Patrizio Bertelli for granting this unique opportunity to the Circolo della Vela di Sicilia.”

Patrizio Bertelli, Team Principal of Luna Rossa Challenge 2013, stated: “This team brings together some of the “historical” Luna Rossa team members, and a strong new group of young sailors. The Circolo della Vela Sicilia has a very long and strong history in the world of sailing and we are proud to be representing it.”

Max Sirena, Skipper of Luna Rossa Challenge 2013, stated: “We have been working very hard in the last few months and the whole team has proved to be ready to meet the challenges of the upcoming AC 45 competitions. We are pleased with the status of our work on the construction of the new wing-sail catamaran AC 72 that we plan to launch in the autumn.”