The revolutionary full-foiling monohull AC75 Luna Rossa has officially touched the water. Launched yesterday at Cagliari’s Molo Ichnusa, where the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team is based, it will represent Italy in the challenge for the world’s oldest sailing trophy.
Marking the ceremony on the wrists of skipper Max Sirena and of the members of the Luna Rossa sailing team was the Panerai Submersible Luna Rossa – 47 mm, part of the collection the Florentine luxury watch brand has dedicated to the Challenger of Record in its role as official sponsor. The watch mirrors the team’s bold character as well as several signature technical features as the case made from carbonfibre, the same material used for the AC75 hull and the dial where Luna Rossa sailcloth fragments are applied.
Attended this important event for all sailing enthusiasts, Miuccia Prada, who officially christened the boat, Patrizio Bertelli, President of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, Agostino Randazzo, President of Circolo della Vela Sicilia, and Marco Tronchetti Provera, CEO of Pirelli, co-title sponsor of the Luna Rossa Team and technological development partner.
Also at the ceremony was Gregorio Paltrinieri, reigning Olympic 1,500m freestyle champion who joined the ranks of Panerai’s Ambassadors last April. His presence underscored yet again the Maison’s celebration of its unique connection with the aquatic sports world.
“It is an honour to be here today with Panerai for the official inauguration of this Italian flavour project based on commitment to sport, quality and innovation. All characteristics I feel very close to in my role as Panerai Ambassador for Italy,” Paltrinieri declared.
Announced last January at the Geneva’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), the partnership between Panerai and the Challenger of Record for the 36th America’s Cup is based on a significant sharing of core values as technical innovation, Italian excellence and an extraordinary passion for the sea.
“Panerai has always flanked modern heroes in their exploits by providing them with exceptional precision instruments for their most extreme challenges,” said Panerai CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué. “We could not be happier to have our watches on the wrists of the Luna Rossa sailing team to face the road to Auckland together”.
The first challenge involving the new AC75 Luna Rossa in the run-up to the finals in New Zealand in 2021 is the series of preliminary regattas of the 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada, the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS), that will take place in Cagliari from 23 to 26 April 2020.
Panerai Luna Rossa Ref. Pam1039
The first watch inspired by the partnership between Panerai and the Challenger of Record of the 36th America’s Cup is the SUBMERSIBLE LUNA ROSSA, a diving watch water-resistant to a depth of 300 metres (30 bar) with a case made of carbotech, the innovative material based on carbon fibre introduced into the world of high quality watchmaking by Panerai. With its qualities of lightness, resistance to external shocks and freedom from corrosion, carbon fibre material is also used to make the AC75 monohull, a picture of which is engraved on the titanium back of the watch, together with the Luna Rossa logo and the America’s Cup profile.
The striated matt black appearance of the case (47 mm) arises from the particular arrangement of the carbon fibres and it gives every watch a sports look, high tech and very distinctive. Enhancing the strong personality of this watch are the unidirectional rotating bezel for calculating the duration of a dive, also made of carbotech, and the dial, whose special texture conceals a fascinating secret: pieces of the sails of the Luna Rossa have been applied to it. The indications on the dial are clearly visible in all situations – including underwater – and several details stand out with their red colour: the small seconds hand at 9 o’clock and the central hand indicating the second time zone which, when set up, will enable the start time of the races of the 36th America’s Cup to be followed even if they are taking place on the other side of the world.
The new Submersible Luna Rossa is fitted with the P.9010/GMT Manufacture movement, which is automatic with a bidirectional oscillating weight and two spring barrels, giving a power reserve of three days. As well as displaying the duration of a dive, the watch has a second time zone, a date window at 3 o’clock and a small seconds dial at 9 o’clock. It is supplied with a light, strong and waterproof black rubber strap, with a brushed titanium buckle.
Panerai Luna Rossa Ref. Pam1039 Technical Specifications
MOVEMENT
Automatic mechanical, P.9010/GMT calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 6.0mm thick, 31 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 3 days, two barrels. 199 components
Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, GMT
CASE
Diameter 47mm, carbotech
BEZEL
Carbotech. Anti-clockwise rotating bezel with graduated scale
BACK
Screw, titanium with black coating. Engraved
DIAL
Dark grey sail with luminous hour markers and dots. Date at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock
WATER RESISTANCE
“30 bar (~300 metres)”
STRAP
– 26/22.0 Standard
PRICE
21.000 € incl. sales tax
