Luna Rossa delivers
Luna Rossa delivered a commanding final-day performance in Naples to win the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta, taking both fleet races before defeating Emirates Team New Zealand in the match-race final.
Photography by America's Cup Media
28 September 2026
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Luna Rossa dominated the decisive day of racing on the Bay of Naples, with Peter Burling and Marco Gradoni leading an Italian team that went unbeaten across all three races to secure the Preliminary Regatta title in emphatic style.
Racing in 11 to 14-knot conditions that shifted and strengthened throughout the afternoon, Luna Rossa established early leads in both fleet races and controlled proceedings from the front.
In the first race, Emirates Team New Zealand was forced into a close battle with La Roche-Posay Racing Team for the second place it needed to progress to the match-race final.
The New Zealand crew eventually created separation on the final windward leg, while Luna Rossa was already well clear and sailed on to victory.
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Luna Rossa again controlled the second fleet race from the start, while La Roche-Posay Racing Team secured third place overall after a strong performance behind the Italians.
Further back, Emirates Team New Zealand Women & Youth and Luna Rossa 2 fought for the Women & Youth title. Jake Pye and Erica Dawson kept the New Zealand boat narrowly ahead of Margherita Porro and Max Antoniazzi, crossing the finish first to claim the category.
The match-race final then brought Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand together for the decisive contest.
Nathan Outteridge and Seb Menzies initially attempted to control the pre-start for Emirates Team New Zealand, but Luna Rossa crossed the line at pace and gained the initiative. Burling and Gradoni then covered the New Zealand boat aggressively, limiting its tactical options and maintaining control around the course.
By the final upwind leg, Luna Rossa had extended its advantage beyond 200 metres. The Italians continued to cover Emirates Team New Zealand down the final leg and crossed the line with a lead of around 350 metres to secure the regatta title.
Gradoni said the result reflected the work completed by the team in the build-up to Naples.
Today was a big day for our team, and I think we managed to finish the job that we started since the practice racing,” he said.
Outteridge said Emirates Team New Zealand had focused strongly on its match-racing preparation but acknowledged the team had not executed the decisive moments of the start well enough.
La Roche-Posay Racing Team skipper Quentin Delapierre also took positives from the French campaign after a regatta that showed flashes of strong pace and racecraft, despite two capsizes affecting its overall result.
ARC Team USA co-helm Lucas Calabrese described the American team’s regatta as inconsistent but encouraging, while Tudor Team Alinghi skipper Paul Goodison said his crew would focus on eliminating mistakes as preparations continue.
GB1 skipper Dylan Fletcher said the British campaign remained focused on maximising time aboard its AC75 ahead of the America’s Cup, rather than prioritising one-design AC40 racing.
The victory was celebrated by a large home crowd in Naples, where Luna Rossa received the trophy in the Race Village at the conclusion of the regatta.
The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup will return to Naples in 2027.
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