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Prada sails second Luna Rossa

Prada was christened with the traditional bottle of champagne

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Louis Vuitton Cup holder Prada has launched its second boat ahead of the next campaign starting October 1.

Miuccia Prada, wife of syndicate head Patrizio Bertelli, launched the syndicate's second new boat Luna Rossa ITA 80 in Auckland, New Zealand, this week.

Having won the right to challenge for the America's Cup in 2000 by winning the Louis Vuitton Cup, Luna Rossa went on to be soundly beaten 5-0 by Team New Zealand.

The first new Prada boat, ITA 74, was launched in Italy in May before being shipped to New Zealand. ITA 80 was flown in a giant Antonov heavy lift aircraft.

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The team expects to sail ITA 80 for the first time next week.

With the beginning of the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger series on October 1st swiftly approaching new launchings have become a regular occasion in Auckland.

In the past week defender Team New Zealand launched its heavily-shrouded boat that they hope will help it retain the America's Cup.

Each syndicate is allowed to build two new yachts in each Cup cycle, a restriction that is designed to limit costs.

For the 2003 Cup only Mascalzone Latino XII, the second Italian syndicate, will be campaigning just one new boat.

Team New Zealand took NZL81 out for its maiden sail on the Hauraki Gulf on Wednesday tow days after a christening by Lady Pippa Blake, widow of murdered yachting legend Sir Peter Blake.

The team is taking the extraordinary step of keeping a protective skirt draped over the boat as it is towed away from the base. The team says it will keep the boat covered each time it goes out to ensure no one can see any new developments the latest design may incorporate.

Team NZ spokesman Murray Taylor called the skirt a sensible precaution.

"We don't want people to see the boat, it's as simple as that," he said. "We want to keep whatever it is we've got to ourselves."