Overview
- Five teams raced AC40 one-design boats in the inaugural Louis Vuitton preliminary in Cagliari over the weekend, with fleet races planned across three days and a match race final between the top two boats.
- Luna Rossa entered two boats and its Women & Youth crew, skippered by Marco Gradoni and Margherita Porro, won two of three opening races to top the early standings while the senior Luna Rossa boat sat close behind.
- The preliminaries use AC40s, smaller standardized four-person foiling boats, to give teams a short-format race programme and to include separate Women and Youth crews ahead of the AC75 Cup in 2027.
- Sport and Youth Minister Andrea Abodi confirmed a second preliminary regatta in Naples for 24–27 September 2026, with the U.S. challenger expected to join that stage and Team Australia’s participation still unresolved.
- Organizers and national bodies coordinated the event to test race logistics, promote tourism and support Bagnoli regeneration, and the Cagliari races were shown on Rai broadcast and streaming platforms.