Luna Rossa takes victory in Naples as 2027 America’s Cup dates confirmed

Luna Rossa secured victory at the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples on the weekend with a stellar performance out on the water.

The city got the first taste of what is to come in 2027 when the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup takes centre stage, as tens of thousands of spectators lined the Lungomare Caracciolo and packed the Race Village at Rotonda Diaz.

On the final day of racing, Naples served up changeable 11-14 knot breezes but it was the Italian challenger who won the final two fleet races and then totally dominated the Match Race final against Emirates Team New Zealand.

Cheers rang out across Naples as Luna Rosa’s Peter Burling and Marco Gradoni, with Maria Giubilei and Gianluigi Ugolini, brought their AC40 home having never been headed once at any marker buoy across all three races and delivered a masterclass match-racing performance right when it mattered.

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Capsizes for La Roche-Posay Racing Team

La Roche-Posay Racing Team finished third at the second America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples, winning two AC40 fleet races during a weekend that also saw the French crew recover from two capsizes.

Luna Rossa on track for 2027?

Marco Gradoni, the mercurial co-helm alongside skipper Peter Burling, came ashore enthused by the performance that the whole team displayed in Naples, saying: “Today was a big day for our team, and I think we managed to finish the job that we started since the practice racing, and many months ago when we started this journey with Pete, Maria, and Gigi. I think we showed to the world that at this event, we were the best by far, and I’m super happy with the result. Today was sea breeze conditions, and it’s the day that you can control more compared to the northeast breeze. In the final we did the perfect start, we did the perfect race, and we won.”

Gradoni reflected on bouncing back from a cruel last day in Sardinia at the first Preliminary Regatta in May 2026, saying: “It’s a big emotion to me because me and Maria suffered a lot some months ago, and it’s really nice to see all the supporters there at the main stage cheering us, and I think they will cheer us a lot next year. It’s nice… I think Luna Rossa has a big chance to win the America’s Cup.”

Marzio Perrelli, CEO of the America’s Cup Partnership, confirmed the dates of the regattas in 2027, saying: “The Louis Vuitton Cup will start on the 22nd May 2027 with an opening weekend of AC75 fleet racing. Then the action switches to one-on-one Match Racing with the final to be concluded by the 4th July 2027 and the selection of the Challenger to face the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand.”

Last year, fans got the first glimpse of the vision for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples in 2027 as the plans were unveiled.

Women’s America’s Cup 2027

Perrelli also confirmed that the Women’s America’s Cup will be held from the 5th July 2027 to the 9th July 2027 inclusive and the previously announced Youth America’s Cup will run from the 2-6 June 2027.

“The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Match is set to begin on the 10th July 2027 and will run to a conclusion at the latest, depending on scoreline, by the 19th July 2027,” he adds.