Italian syndicate Sardinia Challenge has announced that it will Challenge for the America's Cup in Auckland in 2021. It joins the other formally announced challengers Luna Rossa (Italy), Ineos Team UK (Great Britain) and American Magic (US). There are rumours of a second American challenge and Franck Cammas is still working on a sponsor for Team France but time is running out ahead of the official deadline for registering challenges, which is June 30 this year.
The Sardinian team will be headed by Renato Azzara, the founder of Sardinia Yacht Services. The racing team will be headed by Duccio Colombi, winner of 11 Italian Championships, two European Championships, and four World Championships.
Sardinia Challenge's statement says:
''Can you just imagine the AC being held around the Costa Smeralda at the height of the cruising season in 2025? It would be a fantastic event and easily accessible for the whole Superyacht industry to participate in and enjoy. Teams could be entered from Palma, Malta, Monaco etc etc. A new light would shine on the AC.''
The team said it had the backing of the Sardinia Government and Azzara's knowledge of Superyachts was second to none.
''The Government of Sardinia has given the challenge the use of the almost unused G8 summit facilities on the island of Maddalena as a training base until mid-2020; the headquarters will be in Olbia. The whole effort will be transferred to Auckland in New Zealand during 2020.
''The challenge has been named after Adelasia, a mysterious Queen of Sardinia who went through the medieval world glorifying Sardinia, defending it with her love as she lived a life of sacrifice and loneliness in her Castle of Goceano. Adelasia died around 1262 and her tomb was discovered centuries later.''
The Adelasia di Torres Foundation and NAVIGO, the marine association of the Tuscany Nautical Cluster, have signed a memorandum of Understanding to build the boats for the Cup in Sardinia.
