Italy have already shown that they can compete on the international level, having won the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1992 with Il Moro di Venezia. It was a surprise however when no syndicate was formed to challenege again in 1995.

Patrizo chose Francesco de Angelis as his skipper for the Prada Challenge. Torben Grael, who has sailed with Francesco for many years, comes on board as tactician.

The Prada team is one of the few teams to have spent the last two winters training off Auckland. They bought Bill Koch's America^3 boats which has given them vitial practice in the waters where the America's Cup will be held.