Coming fast on the heels of Defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the New York Yacht Club, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and the Circolo della Vela Sicilia that it represents have launched their AC75 foiling monohull in Cagliari, Italy.

Constructed by Persico Marine, the build effort involved over 90 people, including 37 team designers, and took almost two years and 78,000 work hours to complete.

Like the other two AC75s already launched—and as required by the AC75 class rule—the boat includes a number of predetermined mechanisms and components, including standardized control mechanism for the two primary lifting foils. However, it also exhibits a number of unique features, including an especially dramatic sheer line and a pair of distinct bulbs in the “T” joint of its two foils.

That said, the foils, in particular, remain very much a work in progress for all five of the teams currently involved in this latest iteration of the Cup, and where exactly Prada will land with respect to its final foil design is anybody’s guess.

The America’s Cup Challengers’ Selection Series and 36th America’s Cup finals regatta are scheduled to take place in Auckland, New Zealand, beginning in January 2021.

The first in a series of preliminary regattas leading up to the 36th America’s Cup, the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS), will take place in Cagliari April 23-26, 2020.

“This is our sixth America’s Cup challenge, but launch day is as exciting as ever,” said team president Patrizio Bertelli. “It is the magical moment that brings together many months of work and dedication.”

Team director, Max Sirena, agreed, adding: “We can’t wait to get acquainted with the AC75, a boat who will sail almost entirely in foiling mode: the hull will barely touch the water, allowing us to reach very high speeds. A lot of effort has gone into reducing the transition time between

the phase where the hull is fully in the water and the flying phase; it is a difficult balance to achieve, and we will continue to work on it during the development stage.”

For the latest on the 36th America’s Cup, click here.

October 2019