Luna Rossa ITA 74 Is Sailing Again

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

OCTOBER 20, 2002

Photo by Carlo Borlenghi - (c) Copyright Prada Challenge 2002-2003

LUNA ROSSA ITA 74 IS SAILING AGAIN

The Italian Navy Training Ship, the Amerigo Vespucci, arrived this morning in Auckland after five months of sailing. The Ship left from La Spezia, Italy, on May 4 and called at Cadice, Las Palmas (Spain), San Juan (Portorico), Panama, Acapulco (Mexico), San Diego (USA), Honolulu (Hawaii), Christmas Islands and Papeete (Tahiti) before sailing into Auckland where she will remain until March 2003.

Luna Rossa ITA 74, at her first outing this morning after undergoing a week of modifications, sailed out into Waitemata Harbour to meet the Italian Ship before her entry into Auckland Harbour. The Amerigo Vespucci, with all her cadets aloft, was surrounded by a large welcome flotilla. The Ship berthed at Princes Wharf West to a special Mayoral welcome from Auckland City and many happy spectators.

Since October 14 Team Prada has been working around the clock in the shed of their Auckland operations base in order to have Luna Rossa ITA 74 ready for racing in Round Robin Two. A series of modifications on the hull have been carried out and Luna Rossa today showed off a new bow. Today's outing was the first opportunity that Team Prada designers, technicians and crew had to test the new configuration of ITA 74.

The Official Round Robin Two Press Conference will take place at the Louis Vuitton Cup Media Centre tomorrow morning at 9.00. All nine competing skippers will announce what boats they will be sailing in Round Two. According to the rules teams can change boat from one series to the next. Weather permitting, Francesco will then go out sailing on Luna Rossa ITA 74 for the last testing session before Tuesday's "all Italian" match between Luna Rossa and Mascalzone Latino.

This is the only outstanding match from Round Robin One that was postponed a few times due to the lack or excess of wind. No other matches will be sailed on Tuesday. Therefore, Round Robin Two will officially start on Wednesday October 23, one day later than originally planned. The pairings are the same as Round Robin One, but the four daily matches will be sailed in the opposite order.

ENDS

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