Max Sirena, the skipper and team director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, has responded forcefully to the recurring criticism that the America’s Cup has strayed too far from traditional sailing. The Italian veteran addressed the provocative claim — “This isn’t sailing anymore” — in a pointed rebuttal that has reignited one of the sport’s most enduring debates ahead of the 38th America’s Cup in Naples.
The Perennial Question
The tension between tradition and innovation is as old as the America’s Cup itself. Since the introduction of foiling catamarans in the 33rd edition and the dramatic shift to foiling monohulls for AC36 in Auckland, critics have periodically questioned whether the high-tech, high-speed spectacle still qualifies as sailing in any recognizable sense. The boats used in recent cycles — capable of exceeding 50 knots while flying entirely above the water on hydrofoils — bear little resemblance to the 12-Metres and J-Class yachts that once defined the event.
Yet for Sirena and many within the America’s Cup community, this evolution is precisely the point. The America’s Cup has always been a design and technology arms race, dating back to 1851 when the schooner America outfoxed the Royal Yacht Squadron around the Isle of Wight using superior hull design and sail technology.
Sirena’s Response
While the full extent of Sirena’s comments underscored his conviction that the Cup’s technological ambition is inseparable from its identity, the core message was unmistakable: dismissing foiling yachts as “not sailing” misunderstands the fundamental DNA of the regatta. Sirena, who has been involved with the America’s Cup since 1997 and led Luna Rossa’s campaigns across multiple cycles, carries significant authority on the subject. Under his leadership, the Italian syndicate has consistently pushed the boundaries of design and performance, reaching the Cup Match in AC36 and mounting a fierce challenge in AC37 in Barcelona.
Sirena’s perspective aligns with a broader consensus among professional sailors and designers who argue that the skills required to race foiling AC75s — including razor-sharp boat handling, real-time tactical decision-making at extreme speeds, and the ability to exploit marginal wind shifts — are no less demanding than those required in displacement sailing. If anything, the margin for error has shrunk dramatically.
AC38 and Naples 2027
The debate takes on added significance as preparations accelerate for AC38, which will be hosted in Naples in 2027. The choice of the historic Italian port city represents a homecoming of sorts for Luna Rossa, and the Italian team will carry enormous expectations from a passionate local fan base. Naples, with its sweeping bay overlooked by Mount Vesuvius, promises a spectacular natural amphitheater for racing — one that could bring the America’s Cup closer to shore-side audiences than ever before.
Details about the AC38 class rule and boat design parameters are still being finalized, but early indications suggest the next generation of America’s Cup yachts will continue the foiling trajectory while potentially introducing new design freedoms. This means the technology debate is unlikely to subside. If anything, the boats may become faster, more complex, and even further removed from conventional sailing craft.
A Debate That Strengthens the Sport
For all the controversy, the “is it still sailing” argument may ultimately serve the America’s Cup well. It keeps the event in the public conversation and forces defenders of the format to articulate what makes the Cup unique. The America’s Cup has survived schisms, court battles, format changes, and venue controversies across its 174-year history. A philosophical debate about the nature of sailing is, by comparison, a healthy sign of an event that refuses to stand still.
Max Sirena, for his part, appears entirely comfortable on the front foot. As one of the most experienced figures in modern Cup racing, his voice carries weight — and his message is clear: the America’s Cup has always been about pushing limits, and AC38 in Naples will be no exception.
