WHO IS FRANCESCO BRUNI – THE NEW SKIPPER OF TUDOR TEAM ALINGHI?

For so long inter-linked with the Luna Rossa family, ‘Checco’ Bruni is one of Italy’s most accomplished and versatile professional sailors, with a career spanning more than three decades at the highest levels of Olympic sailing, International Match-Racing and the America’s Cup.

Born in Palermo, Sicily, on 11^th April 1973, Checco developed his sailing skills on the waters around Mondello before establishing himself as one of the outstanding Italian sailors of his generation. His achievements include seven world championship titles, five European titles and no less than 15 Italian national championships across numerous classes, from the Laser and Starboat to the 49er as well as offshore and grand prix racing.

Checco represented Italy at three Olympic Games, competing in three different classes: the Laser at Atlanta 1996, the 49er at Sydney 2000 alongside his brother Gabriele, and the Star at Athens 2004, where he finished seventh. His versatility extended to high-performance foiling, finishing runner-up to Tudor Team Alinghi helmsman Paul Goodison at the 2018 Moth World Championship, while in 2011 he reached number one in the ISAF World Match Racing rankings.

His America’s Cup career is so very closely associated with Luna Rossa, having competed in the Italian syndicate’s campaigns in 2003 in Auckland, 2007 in Valencia, 2013 in San Francisco (in which the team pulled out), 2021 in Auckland and 2024 in Barcelona. He also sailed with Sweden’s Artemis Racing during the 2017 Cup cycle.

Checco enjoyed one of his greatest successes in Auckland in 2021, sharing the helm of what was then called ‘Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli’ with Jimmy Spithill. Together, they won the Prada Cup Challenger Selection Series before facing Emirates Team New Zealand in the 36th America’s Cup Match which they lost 7-3 having tied at 3-3 early in the contest. Checco returned to co-helm duties in Barcelona in 2024, with the team reaching the Louis Vuitton Cup final before being eliminated by the British team (now GB1) and subsequently moving into a coaching role with Luna Rossa.

One of the most popular sailors in the America’s Cup community, Checco is a stand-out communicator as well as a proven racing specialist. In the announcement, he said: “I’m truly excited to join Tudor Team Alinghi, one of the iconic names of the America’s Cup. I’m eager to return to the helm and contribute to the Team’s performance, and I’d like to thank Luna Rossa for allowing me to make this move. Many of my new teammates are people I know well and greatly respect, and I’m keen to start working with them.”

We wish Checco well and look forward to seeing him at the helm of Tudor Team Alinghi's 'BoatOne' in Naples when it arrives from its refit in Genoa in the coming weeks.

Magnus Wheatley