As in 1992 with the legendary Moro di Venezia, as in 2000 with Luna Rossa herself who has just repeated the feat: Italy goes for the third time to the final of the America's Cup, the oldest and most prestigious sailing tournament, the Formula 1 of the sea. Almost 30 years ago the feat was accomplished in San Diego, California, when the great Paul Cayard was at the helm of Raul Gardini's boat financed by Montedison: in the final, the defeat against the defenders, the hosts by America Cube. Same fate unfortunately 18 years later, this time in Hauraki Bay in New Zealand, when Luna Rossa was overwhelmed 5-0 by Team New Zealand. Today, again in the gulf around Auckland, Luna Rossa will try for the second time, 21 years after the first: this time the team seems stronger, it is no longer sponsored only by Prada but also by Pirelli, and the crew is led by a champion, the Australian skypper James Spithill.
But the favorites, in the final that will be played between 6 and 20 March, are always them, the hosts of New Zealand, the holders of a title that they only with difficulty regained in 2017, against the Americans of Oracle, after surrendered the scepter in 2003 against the Swiss Alinghi. At the turn of the 90s and 2000s, the New Zealand team won two consecutive editions, keeping the trophy for 8 years, then there were two editions won by Alinghi and two by the USA team, which remains by far at the top of the palmares, with 30 victories out of 35 editions, considering the yacht clubs of New York, San Diego and San Francisco. Luna Rossa Pirelli Prada reaches the final after winning the Prada Cup tonight, the challengers' trophy, overwhelmingly winning the match against the competitive English of Ineos. The match, best of 13 races, ended 7-1 for the Italians: a domination that will be difficult to repeat in the final, but a new blue dream begins.
