Luna Rossa launch ITA-86 in Valencia

Luna Rossa, the Italian America's Cup challenger, launched this morning in sunny Valencia their brand new boat ITA-86.

Luna Rossa not only christened the boat this morning but also launched it and towed it a few meters inside Port America's Cup. The most important news came out after the launch when, during a press conference, Francesco de Angelis, head of the team, announced they planed to start sailing tomorrow morning AND use this brand new boat during the next Louis Vuitton Acts 10 and 11 in Valencia.

If it were an Italian opera, today's event would consist of three parts: The diva, the setting and the actors. Read our report and see our photos for each of the parts.

The diva

It is obvious that all eyes and cameras were on ITA-86 this morning. She is after all the first brand new boat of the America's Cup "Big Four" teams to be publicly christened and launched in Valencia and the second ACC yacht overall, after Shosholoza's RSE-83, launched in May 2005.

According to de Angelis, the boat is ready to enter the fight. If all goes according to plan, it will be taken out for her first sail on Thursday morning. When asked about his plans for the next Louis Vuitton Acts, he didn't hesitate at all before answering that yes, ITA-86 will be used in actual racing.

I asked whether the team had a time schedule for a second new boat and de Angeli's answer was that things were carried out step by step and such shedule would be set when the team see it fit. With ITA-86 just launched it is still too early to talk about a second boat, according to de Angelis.

ITA-86 waiting to be christened. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

ITA-86 right after her christening. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

ITA-86 being lowered into water for the first time. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

ITA-86 being towed inside Port America's Cup moments after her launch. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

ITA-86 being towed inside Port America's Cup moments after her launch. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The bow of ITA-86, Luna Rossa's brand new boat, moments after her launch. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

ITA-86 being towed inside Port America's Cup moments after her launch. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

ITA-86, Luna Rossa's brand new boat, at rest after the end of the ceremony. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The setting

Although it is not the biggest base in Port America's Cup, Luna Rossa's home certainly stands out for its originality. It's hard to believe it but the whole base is indeed covered with used sails from previous America's Cup campaigns, an idea that might sound trivial or obvious for a sailing team but nevertheless a novelty never realized before.

A general external view of the Luna Rossa base. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

All walls are covered with used sails. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Time for a good Valencian paella after the show for the hundreds of guests. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

The actors

There were lots of happy and smiling faces in the base this morning as expected, given the very important event for the team. Without diminishing the importance of anyone else, we focused on three of the Italian team's key persons.

Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of the Prada Group and president of Luna Rossa Challenge. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

Francesco de Angelis, head of Luna Rossa Challenge, probably one of Valencia's happiest people this morning. Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing

"I'm going to beat everybody with this boat". Was James Spithill thinking of that this morning? Valencia, 22 March 2006. Photo taken by Valencia Sailing