The America’s Cup is as tough as it gets. “It’s the highest level of sailing,” says Mr Massimiliano “Max” Sirena. “For sure higher than the Olympic Games.”
Mr Sirena should know. He is about to compete in his seventh America’s Cup, having previously been part of two winning campaigns. The first in 2010 with BMW Oracle Racing, for the USA. His second in 2017 with Emirates Team New Zealand. Now he’s back with Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge as team director and skipper, a role he previously held in 2013.
In January, Mr Sirena will lead his 11-man crew in the Prada Cup in Auckland, a set of match races that will determine which club will meet defenders Emirates New Zealand in the 36th America’s Cup in March. Taking the title from the reigning Kiwis would be particularly sweet: after all, he helped them win it. “I will give a thousand per cent to try to win the Cup for Luna Rossa and for Italy”, he says.