Wool showcased during America’s Cup race series

The wool-rich garments are worn by the entire Luna Rossa sailing team during training as well as sailing.

In a global showcase of Australian Merino wool, the America’s Cup team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has benefited from the performance attributes of the fibre in its sailing uniform, thanks to a partnership with AWI’s subsidiary The Woolmark Company. After an intense America’s Cup race series culminating in the team winning the Prada Cup, they will this month race against the defending team in the world-famous America’s Cup Match.

The America’s Cup series of yachting races is a showcase for the most technologically advanced boats and the greatest sailors in the world. Now in its 36th edition, the America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in the history of sport.

The Woolmark Company is the official technical partner of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, the most respected team in the America’s Cup fraternity and the only one in the history of America’s Cup to have challenged six times. As part of the America’s Cup race series, the team last month spectacularly won the Prada Cup to become the challenger in the 36th America’s Cup Match, beginning later this month.

The partnership of The Woolmark Company with this legendary Italian team highlights the strong link between the world of sport and Australian Merino wool as a premium performance fibre. The partnership has achieved immense media coverage and is influencing global consumers to consider, and ultimately purchase, Australian Merino wool for activewear.

The Luna Rossa AC75 yacht beating the American challenger in the semi-final of the Prada Cup.

The Woolmark Company’s commitment to championing innovation has seen the company support the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team in the research and development of a Merino wool-rich uniform for the entire team and crew during training and sailing. The Woolmark-certified uniform includes: waterproof jacket, soft shell jacket, polo shirt, T-shirt, wet jacket, blouson, wetsuit and base-layers.

“The America’s Cup has always symbolised the best of the best – from the best boats, to the best crews and now the best fibre. It’s the first time wool has taken to the seas on such a large scale and has allowed consumers and sailing fans across the world to see Australian wool used in a very innovative way,” said AWI CEO Stuart McCullough.

“It has been an extraordinary achievement for the Luna Rossa crew, helped by the wool-rich unforms, to make it through the America’s Cup race series and win the right to challenge the defending champion.

“These uniforms herald the emergence of a new breed of natural performance sailing wear. Merino wool has been proven in the toughest sailing conditions to have superior technical and environmental benefits compared to traditional synthetic sailing gear.”

The Luna Rossa team in action: The Woolmark logo is displayed on the sail of the yacht and the right-hand sleeve of the team’s sailing uniform; the logo has now been seen by millions of sailing fans across the world.

Wool is 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable and is the most reused and recycled apparel fibre on the planet. Moving away from uniforms made form synthetic fibres, the use of wool in the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team uniforms offers a natural solution with reduced environmental impact. The wool-rich uniforms have been tested and used by the best through this technical partnership.

Team director and skipper Max Sirena said: “Our physical activity is very demanding in terms of clothing: the garments we wear must be as isothermic, elastic, breathable and water resistant as possible. Well, I discovered on my own skin that Merino wool is all this. It really is a performance fibre, and besides that, it is also absolutely sustainable and biodegradable. I must say that our new uniforms are a wonderful surprise that makes our body – and our spirit – feel good!”

The 36^th America’s Cup

Despite two initial regattas in the America’s Cup series having been cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the benefits of the partnership between The Woolmark Company and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli are mainly associated with the most important series of races that have been successfully held in the past few months in Auckland in the lead up to the 36th America’s Cup Match. The America’s Cup Match will be held later this month and will see the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team challenge the reigning champion from New Zealand.

The successful control of the pandemic in New Zealand meant that the Prada America’s Cup World Series (held in December) and the Prada Cup (held in January and February) were able to continue according to schedule in Auckland with minimal disruption – including spectators being allowed to gather in groups to view the event in-person, something which had been forbidden at nearly all major sporting events around the world during 2020. The America’s Cup is also being broadcast globally to millions of fans across multiple platforms.

As well the America’s Cup race series being broadcast to fans across the world, crowds have also been able to watch events unfold at the competition venue in COVID-safe Auckland.

Following its participation in the Prada America’s Cup World Series (held in December), the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team competed in the Prada Cup, the winner of which would challenger the ‘Defending Club’ Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and its team Emirates Team New Zealand in the 36th America’s Cup Match.

In the Prada Cup, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli beat American Magic (the American sailing team representing the New York Yacht Club) 4-0 in the semi-final, followed by INEOS Team UK (the British sailing team, representing the British yacht club Royal Yacht Squadron) 7-1 in the final. By winning the Prada Cup, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team will now challenge Emirates Team New Zealand in the 36th America’s Cup Match.

This article appeared in the March 2021 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged, however prior permission must be obtained from the Editor.