Prada?s Luna Rossa sailing team is returning to the historic America?s Cup, with every crew member sporting a Panerai in Carbotech with an unprecedented dial texture?
By Alex Doak

Staying up to speed with which luxury-watch brands are sponsoring what America?s Cup teams or partnering whatever cups being contested during each edition?s four-year build-up is almost as confusing as the competition?s (very lengthy) rulebook. So let?s extend our thanks to Officine Panerai for making things infinitely simpler this time round, in the shape of the new Submersible Luna Rossa.
Not only does it sport mercifully concise nomenclature for Panerai (?Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Ceramica 44mm?, anyone") but it also pares-back the macho watchmaker?s involvement with the world?s oldest sporting event from 2017?s three-pronged role of Official Watch of the 35th America?s Cup Presented by Louis Vuitton / Official Watch of the Defenders of the Cup, Oracle Team USA / Official Watch of challenger Softbank Team Japan duties to a singular, and singularly interesting partnership: Official Sponsor of Luna Rossa.
It?s certainly good to see the racy livery and flamboyant personalities of Luna Rossa back on the waves at all. The Prada-owned team, formed in 1997 by CEO and husband to Miuccia Prada, Patrizio Bertelli withdrew from the last Cup in 2015, objecting to the switch from double-hulled 72-foot catamaran to a 45-foot monohull boat design. But now things are back up to 75 fee...