Italy has been a regular challenger for the America's Cup since 1983, and has won the Louis Vuitton Cup on two occasions, first in 1992 with the late Raul Gardini's Il Moro de Venezia syndicate, led by Paul Cayard, and again more recently with this team in their PRADA America's Cup Challenge 2000.
The Louis Vuitton Cup Final in 2000 saw the kind of racing that makes this the premiere yachting event in the world. Paired against Paul Cayard's America One, the smart and motivated PRADA Challenge kept the racing very close. Countless lead changes meant the series went the full nine races. In the end it was the Italian team in the silver boat, PRADA came out on top, winning the right to sail the Defender.
