Luna Rossa has formally been accepted as a challenger for the 34th America's Cup and the Italian team will be working with Emirates Team New Zealand.
Sicily's Circolo della Vela Sicilia will also challenge for the Cup, which will be held at San Francisco in September 2013, having been accepted by the Golden Gate Yacht Club.
Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand have also signed a co-operation agreement which includes full access to all Team New Zealand design and performance data until the end of next year.
The hulls for the Luna Rossa AC72s will be built in Italy and all other elements will be built in New Zealand in close co-operation with Team New Zealand.
Luna Rossa's 2012 programme includes the opening of a base in Auckland for the joint training, and participation in all events of the America's Cup World Series and the launch of the AC 72 wing catamaran for the America's Cup.
Patrizio Bertelli, the team Principal of Luna Rossa 2013 challenge, says he's certain that the co-operation of Luna Rossa with Team New Zealand will produce excellent results, giving both teams a faster and more effective development.
Grant Dalton, the managing director of Emirates Team New Zealand, says the co-operation with Luna Rossa is another step towards establishing the team as a provider of technology and services.
