America’s Cup: Peter Burling confirmed in Luna Rossa sailing team for 2027 challenge in Naples
After winning the America’s Cup three times with Emirates Team New Zealand, helmsman Peter Burling now shapes up as a key figure in one team’s plans to dethrone the Kiwis.
Italian challengers Luna Rossa have confirmed Burling is part of their sailing team as one of four potential drivers alongside Italian trio Ruggero Tita, Marco Gradoni and Margherita Porro.
“There’s always competition,” Burling said of working to secure a starting role in the team.
“Everyone wants to try and achieve and perform at the highest level, and I think that competition’s really healthy to drive the collective forward.”
Burling joined Luna Rossa in June last year, linking up with fellow ex-Team NZ sailor Josh Junior, after failing to agree terms with Team New Zealand. At that point, it was unclear what his role would be, as the protocol for the new cycle had yet to be confirmed.
However, when it was announced that all teams would be allowed to have two non-nationals sailing for them, it seemed more likely than not that Burling would be named in the on-water crew.
Junior has also been sailing the AC40s with Luna Rossa lately, but is believed to be in a coaching role.
Tita was part of the 2024 campaign with the team, but behind helmsmen Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni in the depth chart. With Spithill and Bruni moving on after the Barcelona regatta, many have suggested Tita and Burling are the frontrunners to drive the boat in Naples.
Gradoni was a co-helm and skipper for the Luna Rossa team that won the 2024 Youth America’s Cup in Barcelona. He also impressed in sailing against the main America’s Cup teams alongside Tita in the preliminary regatta in Saudi Arabia in 2023, where they finished second to the Kiwis. At 22, Gradoni still qualifies for the youth team.
Similar to Gradoni, Porro hoisted a trophy in Barcelona as she co-helmed Luna Rossa to victory in the Women’s America’s Cup.
“We’re really lucky at Luna Rossa. We’ve got such an amazing mix of sailors, both men and women,” Burling said.
“The team had incredible success last time in both the Youth and Women’s America’s Cups, and I think the mix of some more experienced with some young enthusiasm is really special in creating a vibrant culture.”
So far, Luna Rossa have been doing two-boat training in their AC40s, in preparation for May’s preliminary regatta in Cagliari, Sardinia.
There, teams will be allowed to enter two AC40s, with one crewed by the main America’s Cup team and the other by youth and women’s team sailors.
It will be the first real indication of how each team plans to set up, with the America’s Cup match in Naples only about 16 months away.
“I think it’s going to be super special to compete at home,” Burling said.
“The Italians are amazing supporters of sailing and of Luna Rossa, and to be part of that home team in Naples is going to be incredibly special, I’m sure.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.