ONE YEAR AGO TODAY: LUNA ROSSA WINS THE PUIG WOMEN’S AMERICA’S CUP
In Barcelona, the women’s team wrote a historic page in Italian sailing history
After celebrating the success of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, Luna Rossa marks another memorable anniversary today: the historic victory in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup, achieved on October 12 in Barcelona during the 37th edition of the America’s Cup.
Writing this important chapter in Italian sailing history—by winning the first-ever all-female America’s Cup event—were Giulia Conti (helmswoman), Margherita Porro (helmswoman), Maria Giubilei (trimmer), Giulia Fava (trimmer), Maria Vittoria Marchesini (helmswoman), Alice Linussi (trimmer), and Giovanna Micol (trimmer).
The races, which began on October 5, followed the same format as the youth competition, featuring a qualifying round and fleet semifinals leading up to a final match race. Luna Rossa competed against 11 teams from around the world, all sailing identical AC40 One Design foiling monohulls.
After finishing the opening day at the top of the leaderboard, with three wins out of four races, the women’s team consistently remained among the leaders, demonstrating remarkable skill and composure in handling both their opponents and the challenging weather conditions, which often forced the Race Committee to impose long delays.
Finishing second with 39 points in both the qualifying and semifinal stages, Luna Rossa faced the British team in the grand final on October 12 under demanding conditions, with choppy seas and unstable winds around 10 knots. Taking the lead right from the first mark, the Italian sailors extended their advantage downwind through focus, precision, and flawless maneuvers. Despite the British team’s attempts to recover, Luna Rossa left no room for a comeback and sailed an error-free race, turning an exemplary performance into a historic victory.
