In the same way that one swallow doesn’t make a summer, one AC40 sighting does not necessarily mean an America’s Cup cycle is under way. However, the fact that yesterday Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli started their training programme on the Mediterranean waters off Cagliari in Sardinia is at least a very positive step in the right direction.
The Italian team posted an aerial shot of the Luna Rossa AC40 in flight on Instagram, titled: ‘First splashdown of 2025’. Not that it was ever in any doubt, but this post – which received almost 2,700 positive reactions in the first 17 hours – confirms the Italians are very much committed to the 38th America’s Cup.
That’s music to everyone’s ears given the recent withdrawal of Ineos Britannia and Alinghi Red Bull Racing and the unknown financial status of Ben Ainslie’s Athena Racing Challenger of Record.
Could perhaps the Italians' first sail also be an indicator that a host city deal has been done for AC38? That might be a stretch, but whatever else it signals, the sight of an America’s Cup team coming back to life is a welcome one for all concerned.
Anyone taking bets on which will be the next team to re-launch their AC40(s)? All eyes on Auckland or Pensacola, maybe?
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