NEW HONORS FOR LUNA ROSSA
The Italian team’s boats reach the podium at the FIV Sailor of the Year and at the Foiling Awards
The 31st edition of the “FIV Sailor of the Year – Sailing Stars Awards" took place on May 21 in Rome. Since 1991, this event has honored the champions of Italian sailing. The winners of the various categories were announced during a gala dinner held in the elegant Villa Miani, with numerous prominent figures from Italian institutions and sports in attendance, including Giovanni Malagò (President of CONI), Luca Pancalli (President of the Italian Paralympic Committee), Francesco Ettorre (President of the Italian Sailing Federation – FIV), Marco Mezzaroma (CEO of Sport e Salute), and Claudio Barbaro (Undersecretary at the Ministry of the Environment).
The AC40 Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was awarded Boat of the Year – Confindustria Nautica Trophy – Silver Star, with the following commendation: «The use of technology to promote youth sports and gender inclusion exemplifies an inspiring project that has already become an international model».
Accepting the award on stage were the women’s and youth teams of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, winners of the 2024 Puig Women’s America’s Cup and the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, respectively—both raced aboard the AC40 in Barcelona.
«One-design boats are, by definition, the same for everyone. What truly makes the difference in this type of racing are the sailors—their precision tuning and expert handling. Our AC40, skippered by two exceptional Italian crews, managed to outperform all competitors, dominating both the women’s and youth regattas. These results are a source of pride not only for the sailors and the team as a whole, but also for the many fans who supported us with such passion in Barcelona, pushing us to raise the Italian flag to the top of the podium—twice».
Max Sirena, Skipper and Team Director, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
«This evening means much more to us than a simple award ceremony—it’s a moment when the entire Italian sailing community comes together to recognize and celebrate a year of commitment, effort, and achievement. The Sailing Stars are all those who, often behind the scenes, help elevate our sport every day. We’ve experienced an extraordinary season, capped by two historic Olympic gold medals. I want to thank Confindustria Nautica for our increasingly close and natural collaboration, and all the individuals—across clubs and racecourses—who keep the spirit of sailing alive. This award is a celebration that embraces all of Italian sailing».
Francesco Ettorre, President of the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV)
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli also earned major accolades at the 8th Foiling Awards, held in Genoa on May 20. The team took home two wins: in the One-Off Boat category with the AC75 Luna Rossa, and in the Commercial Vessel category with the hydrogen-powered catamaran HSV. The Special Prize – Best Coach 2024 was awarded to Simone Salvà, coach of both the women’s and youth teams of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
