Futuristic materials. Partly covered by industrial secrets, partly not, but now commonly used among Made in Italy professionals who literally fly into the waters of Auckland (also) Red Moon. The boat sponsored by Prada e Pirelli, regardless of the final outcome of the 36th edition of the America’s Cup, sails quickly towards a record never achieved in the past: in 170 years of history (the oldest sports trophy in the world born in 1851) an Italian boat has never been the protagonist like Luna Rossa in this edition.
Lightweight cables by Gottifredi Maffioli
Cables with a density lower than water but resistant like steel. If Luna Rossa manages to reach 100 kilometers per hour in the match against Team New Zealand, it is due to the super light weight of the boat thanks also to the cables and lines in Dyneema. Produced from Novara Gottifredi Maffioli, the company recorded a turnover of about 5,700,000 euros in 2020 (-13% compared to 2019) and is at the forefront in the production of cables and ropes in ultra-high modulus polyethylene, that is an extremely light fiber so much that it succeeds to float. Sometimes, the cables in Dyneema they are used in cranes or to transport weights with helicopters. From the tops in natural fiber, to Kevlar, from Pbo to Dyneema, here is another fine example of the Made in Italy that sails in the waters of Auckland.
The company was founded in 1926 by Maria Gottifredi and shortly after her husband, Ettore Luigi Maffioli, joined in the management of the company. The Novara company, now known as a reference point in the nautical market, was born as a support to the textile industry for the production of natural fiber cords and ribbons. In fact, in 1954, the company developed the first synthetic mountain ropes ever made, thus making a decisive contribution to the success of the Italian expedition that conquered the summit of K2 for the first time in history. Since then, the silhouette of the Himalayas has become a symbol of the company.
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The vele of North Sails
Black as coal, and not so much to say. Made up of 90% carbon and 10% between Dyneema and resins to keep everything tied up, American sails North Sails of Luna Rossa have Made in Italy design and finish. In Carasco, Genoa. In fact, if on the one hand the main part of the sail is made in the United States, on the other the Italian branch of the same American company finishes it ad hoc for the Italian boat (Team New Zealand also has North Sails sails, but finished by the branch neo-Zendonian).
The Ligurian company, managed by CEO Daniele Cassinari and by the board member and commercial director Alessio Razeto turnover in 2019 about 10 million euros and in 2020 the decline was 8% for the (now) obvious reasons related to the pandemic. Finally, North Sails is part of North Marine Group (Nmg): joining the Oakley Capital sphere in 2014, Nmg recorded a turnover of 350 million dollars in 2019 (in 2020 the contraction should be 15%). North Marine Group includes the “world” of North Sails sails, Southern Spars (the New Zealand company that produces the carbon masts for the America’s cup), clothing and speedboats Edge Water.
Persico hull and foil
The foil (piece composed of the arm, the yellow part that you see in Luna Rossa plus the black wing that has the flap like in airplanes) is used to literally make the hull fly. Persico Group, which apart from the sails and the mast provided the essential elements and most of the strategic elements of the boat sponsored by Prada and Pirelli, recorded in 2019 a consolidated turnover of 158.1 million euros with a slight decrease compared to 158.9 million in 2018. Persico Marine, on the other hand, showed an increase in turnover in 2019 compared to the previous year: 29.8 million against 20.9 million in 2018.
The company from Nembro (Bg) was founded in 1976 by Pierino Persico (supported by his 3 children Claudia, Alessandra and Marcello for some time) as a wood modeling shop. Over the years it has then specialized in the design and production of molds and systems for the automotive sector, as well as in the construction of racing and performance cruising yachts.
In addition to the numbers of the company itself, there are also the elements supplied to the challenge underway in Auckland: 2 carbon hulls (the regulation provides for 2 boats); 4 rudders; 16 arms (4 for each of the 4 teams participating in the Prada Cup and the America’s Cup, as the official supplier for all the teams); 1 set of wings (2 in total, one on the right and one on the left, while the other 3 wings were commissioned by Angelo Glisoni at Cropelli of Palazzolo sull’Oglio, Brescia, 2020 turnover of 4,500,000 euros against 5 million in 2019). If we then add 3 years of work, 120,000 man hours on site and 40 people dedicated full-time to the construction of the two Luna Rossas, the commitment and dedication of the Bergamo-based company from Nembro can be better defined also for sport.
Cariboni cylinders and joints
They do not see each other. But it is those pieces that make the hull move in perfect harmony with the appendages (also) of Luna Rossa. Cylinders, joints, hydraulic pumps, valves and mechanical parts in titanium that bind the 2 foils with the carbon hull. And the Cariboni Srl of Ronco Briantino (Monza and Brianza) – turnover in 2020 just over 5 million, in line with that of 2019 – to supply the boat sponsored by Prada e Pirelli the hydraulic equipment that is a necessary complement to the mast, hull and rudder.
Cariboni is a family company founded by Gianni Cariboni in 1984 as a company specialized in the construction of masts for sailing boats. In addition to the founder, the owners are the sons Marco and Paola. The Brianza-based company designs and manufactures hydraulic equipment for sailing boats: for the America’s Cup it supplied the boats with titanium cylinders for moving the arms and titanium pieces for joining the arms to the cylinders and to the hull.
For Luna Rossa, on the other hand, it supplied the entire hydraulic system, cylinders, pumps, valves, manifolds (oil distributors) and mechanical parts. The pieces for each team have been designed and produced ad hoc, according to the needs. In addition to the Cariboni family, there are 21 employees plus 5 freelancers who provide assistance and product installation services around the world.