MEET LUNA ROSSA’S OUTSTANDING WOMEN SAILORS
When Luna Rossa won the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup in Barcelona, they did so in style. It was a tense winner-takes-all match against the talented Hannah Mills OBE and Tash Bryant of the British team who had dominated the competition in the fleet racing. The Italian Women dug deep, got their bow in front and executed a near-perfect race to win and lift the trophy.
That success was a catalyst for wild celebrations both on and off the water with the Luna Rossa women emulating the Youth Team of Marco Gradoni and Gigi Ugolini who also won in fine style. It was a moment not only in Italian sailing but in global sailing too, showcasing to the world that women’s sailing at the pinnacle had arrived.
For 2027, the Luna Rossa’s Women’s Team has strength in depth and have been training hard in Cagliari ahead of the Prelim Regatta from the 21-24 May 2026. They are a mix of youth and experience, pushing each other not only for the coveted space on the Italian AC75 but in the defence of their Women’s America’s Cup title. In Sardinia they will sail alongside the Youth team with a 50/50 split and are expected to do very well. They will, however, face strong opposition from every team with investment pouring into the development pathways of the next generation of women sailors in the America’s Cup.
In Naples at the presentation of all the teams, Margherita Porro put in perspective what it means to be so fully integrated with the Luna Rossa team saying: “It's a perfect moment, a very lucky moment for women in sailing. Two years ago, in Barcelona, we returned with history. But it was not just history for us. It was really fun racing, high level racing between some of the best sailors in the world. And yeah, I'm looking forward to this Cup. There will be a woman on board the AC75. I don't know if it will be me but I'll give my best and I'm looking forward to sail both the AC75 and the AC40. For me, it's the same because it's learning. It's a possibility to show what women can do and I'm very excited about it. I feel very honoured to be part of it.”
Let’s meet the Women’s squad who will compete in Sardinia alongside the Youth team, racing against the very best in the world...
Maria Giubilei
With a degree in Philosophy, Maria started sailing at the age of six on Optimists and since then, while still cultivating other interests (she attended the conservatory and plays guitar), she has never stopped racing. In 2017, following her classical high school diploma, she embarked on the Olympic path in the Nacra 17 class where she achieved several successes paired with Gianluigi Ugolini: two-time World Vice-Champion (2021 and 2022), three-time U24 World Champion (2018, 2019 and 2021), two bronze medals at the European Championships (2022 and 2023) and Gold at the Paris 2024 Test Event. Maria has a strong passion for philosophy and knowledge in general, loves nature and animals, and, if she were not a sailor, would fight for their rights full-time. In 2024 she joined the Luna Rossa women's team and in the role of trimmer onboard the AC40 she won the inaugural Women's America's Cup in Barcelona.
Alice Linussi
Born in Trieste, Alice is a Communications undergraduate student. She began sailing at the age of seven on Optimists, moving then to the 420s as bow where she won the world title when she was just 15 years old. She then switched to the Olympic 470 class in which she won the European Mixed Juniors title in 2019, taking the bronze in the overall ranking. In 2017, at 16, she helmed an 80-footer at the world's most attended regatta, the Barcolana, later winning (in its division) the 2023 edition. That same year she entered the world of foiling sailing, competing aboard a 69F in the Women Foiling Gold Cup (closing third). An avid alpine skier, she enjoys numerous sports, but sailing is her great passion. In 2024, on the eve of graduation, she joined Luna Rossa and that same year she was part of the sailing team that won the Women's America's Cup.
Maria Vittoria Marchesini
Born in Trieste, Maria Vittoria started sailing at the age of seven in the Optimist class (following her grandfather's advice) and at age 14 she won a bronze medal at the Women's Worlds. She then took up the helm in the 420, a class in which she won a bronze medal at the 2016 Women's Worlds. She then followed the Olympic 470 class where, in 2019, she won the World Junior Mixed gold and the European Junior Mixed bronze medal. In 2022 Maria Vittoria switched to 49erFX as bow. In the same year she began her adventure with wingfoils, which she became so passionate about that she participated in multiple stages of the world championship in 2023. Also in 2023, at the helm of the 69F, she won third place in the Women Foiling Gold Cup. She is enrolled in Economics and Management at university and in her spare time enjoys hiking and skiing in the mountains, although her life passion is the world of sailing. In 2024 she joined Luna Rossa and that same year she was part of the sailing team that won the Women's America's Cup.
Margherita Porro
Born in Brescia and with a degree in Sport Sciences, Margherita is a 'Fiamme Gialle' athlete who began sailing on Lake Iseo at the age of five. As a youth she won the world title in the O'pen Bic, RS Tera and RS Feva classes. Very soon she started sailing in the 29er class, winning the World and European titles with crew Sofia Leoni. In 2017 she began sailing on foiling boats, including the innovative Waszp, and then switched to the mixed catamaran Nacra 17 as helm. In this class (paired with Stefano Dezulian) she won the 2022 Italian Championship and gained second place at the U24 Worlds. In 2024 she joined the Luna Rossa team and won the Women's America's Cup in Barcelona as co-helm of the AC40. If she were not a sailor, Margherita would cultivate her passion for the mountains, devoting herself in particular to mountain rescue.
