Luna Rossa, Prada back in America's Cup

 Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge and fashion house Prada are back in
the America's Cup.

   The Italians announced Wednesday that their challenge for the
2013 America's Cup has been accepted by Golden Gate Yacht Club. The
late challenge comes as the other teams are preparing for the third
stop on the America's Cup World Series starting next week in San
Diego. The Italians aren't expected to start competing until next
year.

   With the addition of the Italians, there are eight foreign
challengers for the Auld Mug, which will be defended in 2013 on San
Francisco Bay by Oracle Racing.

   The challenge is headed by Patrizio Bertelli, Prada's chief
executive officer. Prada is providing 40 million euros ($55.2
million) in sponsorship. Luna Rossa's backing yacht club is the
Circolo della Vela Sicilia of Palermo.

   Luna Rossa -- which means red moon -- and Emirates Team New
Zealand have signed a cooperation agreement that runs through Dec.
31, 2012, and includes full access to all of the Kiwis' design and
performance data. The hulls for Luna Rossa's 72-foot catamaran will
be built in Italy and all other elements will be built in New
Zealand in cooperation with Team New Zealand.

   Luna Rossa brought both style and good sailing to the 2000
America's Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. The Italians reached the
America's Cup match before being swept in five races by Team New
Zealand.

   Luna Rossa will open a base in Auckland for joint training and
boat development with the Kiwis.

   "I am certain that the cooperation of Luna Rossa with Emirates
Team New Zealand will produce excellent results, giving to both
teams a faster and more effective development both in the technical
and in the sporting fields," Bertelli said in a statement. "The
choice of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia as challenging yacht club
is also significant: I think it is important, in a moment like
this, to underline the unity of our country also in the field of
culture and sports."

   Matteo de Nora, the team principal of Team New Zealand, said the
Kiwis "look forward to close cooperation on land and intense
rivalry on the water."

   Bertelli established Luna Rossa in 1997 under the name Prada
Challenge for the America's Cup 2000. Luna Rossa also participated
in 2003 and 2007. In 2007, the Italians reached the Louis Vuitton
Cup final for challengers before losing 5-0 to Team New Zealand.
The Kiwis then were defeated 5-2 in the America's Cup match by
Alinghi.

   Luna Rossa is currently leading the standings in the Extreme
Sailing Series for 40-foot catamarans.

   Team New Zealand won the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000 before
losing it in 2003 to Alinghi of Switzerland.

   Team New Zealand leads the America's Cup World Series, which is
being contested around the globe in wing-sailed, 45-foot
catamarans. The ACWS will include regattas in Naples and Venice
next spring and return to Naples in 2013. The 2013 Louis Vuitton
Cup and America's Cup match will be sailed in 72-foot cats.