When you are racing across the open water at speeds closing in on 50 knots (just under 100kmh), you feel the crest of every wave as your vessel tries to cut through them. The sea responds to such aggressive moves by trying to shake you off, literally. By you, we mean to say anyone aboard the offending speedboat; if you are not strapped into a seat or holding on for dear life, you will be lifted off your feet and dumped overboard. Holding on is exactly what I am doing as the Luna Rossa speedboat we are aboard attempts to demonstrate the speeds that the Luna Rossa foiling monohull achieves.

Of course, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team tells us that experiencing stomach-churning speeds on a powered vessel cannot really compare with what it feels like to sail aboard a foiling monohull. For one thing, even at the speeds we manage here off the coast of Cagliari, Italy, we would still be trailing behind the AC75 racing yacht that Luna Rossa will be fielding in the 37th America’s Cup 2024. Yes, speedboats can be outpaced by five-tonne sailing yachts, and – for some context – that is like saying a mechanical watch could be more precise than a quartz watch. This, of course, is a segue because we are here at the Luna Rossa Base in Sardinia at the invitation of Panerai; the Swiss-made Italian watch brand is an official Luna Rossa sponsor.

Now, before you go accusing us of having had too much Franciacorta – not to mince words about it – besides having our brains baked by the Sardinian sun, you should know that the AC75 monohulls have been known to achieve speeds in excess of 50 knots. Google it. In any case, the America’s Cup represents peak sailing, both from the perspective of sailing the monohulls and engineering them. The legendary regatta is the Formula 1 of the sailing world and has been since before the motorcar was even a gleam in Karl Benz’s eye. Like the development of the automobile, the America’s Cup has quite a rich narrative and so we give it its own section. While the contemporary reality of sailing is far removed from its roots, some context is still useful. Just so you know, the America’s Cup is the world’s oldest sporting competition of any kind, with the first having taken place in 1851.

Above The Waves

If you are in the mood to have your mind boggled by some sailing yacht facts, here is the low-down on the standard monohull hydrofoil that will be used in the coming America’s Cup. The AC75 (or America’s Cup 75 footer) is also the basis of the prototype that Luna Rossa is using, but more on that in due course. It helps to first know what in the world a hydrofoil monohull sailing yacht is, and how it manages to just glide above the waves. The simple answer is that there are wings called hydrofoils attached to the hull, left and right, and these do what wings normally do. The tips or ends of these two wings and a rudder are the only elements that are in contact with the water when the yacht is at speed, making it look for all the world like it is flying across the waves. Such a vessel should easily move at twice the prevailing wind speed, and might even go faster. This is difficult to grasp because the yacht is wind-powered after all, but it is what happens. Here is what we have been able to glean from official sources on the technical details: the aforementioned wings are canting ballasted T-wing hydrofoils mounted on the port and starboard topside longitudinal drums; there is a centerline T-wing rudder, and no keel (source: Wikipedia).

All of the above is certainly standard but the America’s Cup race did not start using the hydrofoil design until 2017, and the monohull variant dates from just two years ago (2021). Team Luna Rossa itself is working on a prototype, LEQ 12, with the following publicly declared specifications:

Hull Length <12m
Mast Height +/- 18 m
Weight (Unscrewed) 2.1 tonnes
Crew 4+2
Top Speed 45+ knots

This puts the LEQ 12 at an apparent disadvantage as far as top speeds go because the AC75 has been clocked at speeds beyond 50 knots. Of course, that is straight line speed and the thing about sailing boats is how they turn. Again, perhaps counterintuitively, sailing vessels can and do sail into the wind, and have been doing so since some clever sailor somewhere figured out how to angle the sails just right. On that note, consider that the Luna Rossa team considers itself pretty clever too since it opted to create its own boat from scratch to challenge team New Zealand, the defender of the America’s Cup. The 10,000 sqm Cagliari base camp is where Luna Rossa is doing most of its development work, which is not inconsiderable; there is also a 4,000 sqm site in Barcelona, Spain, which is where the AC75 Challenger Selection Series begins next year. In fact, Luna Rossa was one of the teams that developed the aforementioned AC75 foiling monohull standard.

America’s Cup History

Auld Mug

Given that it predates the first Olympic Games by 45 years, the America’s Cup is really the world’s oldest international sporting event; the first race was held in 1851 while the Summer Olympics began in 1896. It was originally a showdown between two yacht clubs or organisations in Great Britain and the United States, and what we call the America’s Cup today is named for the schooner that won the first race in 1851, the America.

The first defence of the America’s Cup only took place in 1870, by which time the New York Yacht Club, which was the steward of the Cup, was already under one of the most famous of the competition’s rules: the holder of the America’s Cup is obliged to defend its right to steward Auld Mug (as it was originally called) should any qualifying club issue a challenge. This remains the case to this day, which is why the America’s Cup champion is called the Defender, while its rival is called the Challenger of Record. Until 1967, there was only one Challenger but from 1970, multiple clubs issued qualifying challenges. This was the beginning of the Challenger Selection Series, where all America’s Cup challengers competed until one victor emerged as the Challenger of Record to take on the Defender.

The race between the Challenger and Defender has evolved over time too, but the affair is still relatively stately, with the Defender and Challenger agreeing to terms prior to every challenge.

Panerai Luna Rossa

Riding The Wind

Although watch collectors will be much more familiar with Panerai as the military secret that equipped Italian navy divers with precision instruments than anything else, the contemporary Panerai watchmaking brand has been associated with all manner of marine activities for the better part of this century. Since 2017, Panerai has created wristwatches with the sorts of materials that America’s Cup teams were experimenting with. One might even say that Panerai’s penchant for material innovation makes it an ideal partner for a racing team such as Luna Rossa, which is precisely how team Luna Rossa describes the watchmaker.

Of course, Panerai recognises its own virtues in exploring new frontiers in watchmaking, as Ficarelli told us, citing just the example of PAM01039. The brand knows to maximise on the emotional qualities of being innovative, which points to a certain spirit of boldness. Here, we enter the realm of character, as Panerai connects the dots between past and present, and thus hopes to build bridges with community of watch lovers. “Storytelling is pivotal in cementing Panerai’s legitimacy, intertwining its deep-seated maritime roots with its modern identity,” said Ficarelli. “By chronicling its journey from creating robust instruments for the Italian Navy to embracing the adrenaline of performance boating, Panerai underscores its heritage and authenticity. Each watch, steeped in historical value and innovative prowess, symbolises a continuity of tradition and a forward-looking vision, fortifying the brand’s connection with enthusiasts who value both the legacy and the ongoing maritime saga.”

Panerai had a dedicated Luna Rossa series of watches than spans a number of ranges, including the Submersible (although the 1309 is currently unavailable). Panerai watches are typically in-demand so availability of Luna Rossa watches should be monitored closely. Currently, our pick includes the Luminor Luna Rossa Chrono Carbotech PAM01519 and the Luminor Luna Rossa Quaranta BiTempo PAM01404. The impressively named latter watch is especially notable for its automatic P.900 GMT calibre, which has a three- day power reserve. The chronograph is powered by calibre P.9200 and is currently the only available Luna Rossa watch cases in Carbotech. This is important for this watch because it is a 44mm whopper. The GMT model is a more reasonable 40mm watch in steel. There are also two Luminor Due references worth taking note of: PAM 01378 and PAM 01381.

Just as Formula 1 is an expensive sport, so too is the business of the America’s Cup, with estimates on operating the teams running up to US$200 million for each competitive run. This is evident in the Luna Rossa base camp, where there are at least two simulators, two prototypes (a slightly scaled-down model that we saw and another full-size model that takes to the waves), in-house manufacturing capabilities, and engineers and technicians of many stripes all working together to develop the LEQ 12 that will eventually be the Luna Rossa racing yacht. In total, there are approximately 118 people on the distinctly Italian team, including Skipper and Team Director Max Sirena and Circolo Della Vela Sicilia President Patrizio Bertelli. It breaks down as follows:

Sailing Team 24
Shore Team 34
Communications / Public Relations 5
Services / Administration 17
Design Team 34

One quick way to understand team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is to look at the tale in terms of figures. Here is what the fact sheet says about the team:

America’s Cup Participation (Including The Coming Season) 6
(2000, 2003, 2007, 2013, 2021, 2024)
Appearances At Challenger Selection Series Finals 4
(2000, 2007, 2013, 2021)
Challenger Selection Series Won 2
(2000 Louis Vuitton Cup; 2021 Prada Cup)
Challenger Of Record Success 2 (2003, 2021)
Overall America’s Cup Yachts Built Since 1997 9

If there is one Panerai watch that embodies the story here, it must be the Submersible Luna Rossa PAM01039. Panerai Chief Marketing Officer Alessandro Ficarelli explains: “(The watch) stands out due to its use of innovative materials like Carbotech (a specially developed material used by the brand), representing the brand’s adventurous spirit and its watchmaking expertise. Moreover, its aesthetic intertwines sporty resilience with elegance, including details like the incorporation of actual sail material, which symbolises a forward-thinking vision that aligns with Panerai’s maritime legacy and its future aspirations.”

Those aspirations are on show on this visit to Sardinia, which was actually part of Panerai’s now-famous experiences. The Luna Rossa vessel itself might be a very expensive closely-held secret that amateurs have no business messing with, but there are all manner of maritime activities that can be associated with the competitive team’s preparations. Popular on this particular occasion was water-skiing but Panerai also went the distance with a surfing experience with the brand’s ambassador, surfing champion Leonardo Fioravanti. Of course, everything will pay off nicely for Panerai should Luna Rossa be on top form during the America’s Cup. First though, whether the Luna Rossa team will become the Challenger of Record in 2024 will be determined when the season begins in Barcelona.

This article first appeared on WOW’s Festive 2024 issue.

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