At first glance, it seems to be what it is: a super-advanced technical fabric, with ultra-fast drying and extreme lightness. But upon analyzing the sports clothing worn by the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli crew (both aboard their America's Cup AC75 and during their workouts in the gym), the surprise is maximum.
They are made with wool. But it's not just any fiber, it's the most exceptional Merino wool by Woolmark, the world authority on the matter, and sailors know it and can confirm it since they train with their fabrics. In the most surprising and technical evolution that anyone can imagine, this Merino wool ensures, they say, “maximum breathability, durability, temperature regulation, and unexpected moisture management. Extraordinary.”
Merino wool is the most breathable, lightweight, and fastest drying
Those who enjoy these benefits the most are, of course, the team's cyclists, because they are also, without fear of anyone daring to contradict them, “probably those of us who appreciate this support the most when we have to pedal as if there's no tomorrow.”
This fiber is praised for its biodegradability in marine environments
“According to Bruno Rosetti and Emanuele Liuzzi, both coming from the global elite of rowing, the key is 'to give it all, to push your heart beyond its limits if necessary during the twenty-something minutes that the race lasts, or in other words, to sweat and sweat without worrying about dampness or oars. Just focused on producing a lot of watts.”
This remarkable commitment to the merino wool translates into an immediate improvement in sports performance, but also into a decidedly ecological stance, as it combats ocean pollution.
“This fiber is praised for its biodegradability in marine environments,” explain the officials at Woolmark, a subsidiary of Australian Wool Innovation, a nonprofit organization that conducts research, development, and marketing of the global supply chain for Australian wool on behalf of the nearly 60,000 wool producers who fund it.
