1984. When Italy was the Mecca of the America’s Cup.

Welcome to the special section “GdV 5th Years.” We are introducing you, day by day, An article from the archives of the Journal of Sailing, starting in 1975. A word of advice, get in the habit of starting your day with the most exciting sailing stories-it will be like being on a boat even if you are ashore.

When Italy was the Mecca of the America’s Cup.

Taken from the 1984 Journal of Sailing, Year 9, No. 2 March-April, p. 22/24

Italian America’s Cup mania explodes in the wake of Azzurra. Five unions try to win the world’s oldest trophy. Meanwhile, where did Azzurra’s “heroes” go? And a very young Francesco De Angelis debuts; we will find him, years later, on Luna Rossa.

Five syndicates and seven boats: Italy, the latest arrival in the magical world of the twelve, has already become a Mecca for these incredible boats. All the news and previews.

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Michele Molino, nautical engineer with the sea in his vein

Five syndicates and seven boats: Italy, the latest arrival in the magical world of the twelve, has already become a Mecca for these incredible boats. All the news and previews.

Italy is virtually, as of a few weeks ago, the country in the world with the largest number of 12-meters. There are four, besides Azzurra, syndicates that are organizing to attempt the 1987 America’s Cup operation; they have sprung up in Milan, Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi and Portofino. Only the Forte dei Marmi group is currently left without a boat; the others, however, have already concluded their deals all over the world. In Viareggio, the consortium headed by Perini (owner’s profession) bought the Australian boat Challenge 12; in Milan, the group headed by the Giorgetti and Magrini firm bought the English boat Victory ’83; the U.S. boat Spirit of America was bought by the Portofino group, while the Forte dei Marmi syndicate maintains its opinion on the English hull Victory ’82. That the 12-meter number is absolutely exaggerated can be understood by even the most inexperienced, but two fundamental unknowns leave one puzzled. The first concerns crews: who will lead all these boats? Is Italian sailing really capable of organizing 10 12-meter crews at a decent level? Personally we advance many doubts, and for me the facts speak for themselves: the results of the base, Olympic classes, in the last year are to be called disastrous. The second perplexity concerns the project. Vallicelli aside, who, by the way, took a year to design Azzurra, the names being made to build the boats have no specific experience in either racing boats or, much less, 12-meter boats. “The road to Perth (it is the home of the next Cup in 1987 ed.),” Cino Ricci said some time ago during an interview, “is very long and full of difficulties, we’ll see who will be able to travel it. – Azzurra’s skipper is right, but despite all these complications there are those who are determined to try this road. Let’s start with the union that is currently indicated by all as the one that has been able to move the best. Giorgetti and Magrini (a Milanese design firm experienced in building large cruising boats) have purchased on behalf of a group of sponsors that has still remained secret lan Howlett’s British boat, Victory ’83.

Victory ’83 is undoubtedly one of the fastest “classic” 12 meters around

That Victory ’83 is a good boat proved this in regattas at Newport last summer, where she made it to the semi-finals of the Cup beaten only by John Bertrand’s Australia II. Designed in a hurry last year to replace Ed Dubois’ Victory ’82, which appeared slow and erratic, Victory ’83 is undoubtedly one of the fastest “classic” (i.e., wingless) 12-meter boats around. Who will race Victory ’83? The Milanese syndicate has so far contacted three names, all of great prestige: Laurent Cordelle, Stefano Roberti and Lorenzo Bortolotti. The former stalled, but then declined; Roberti was more possibilistic and asked for technical guarantees. When he then seemed convinced, with the engagement of Lorenzo Bortolotti, Cino Ricci wrested from him the commitment to race Azzurra until 1987. Losing Azzurra’s mainsail trimmer by a whisker did not deter the Milanese syndicate, which began persistently courting Lorenzo Bortolotti. The first results are in: North Italia will fully follow, making its technical contribution, both Azzurra and Victory ’83, while waiting for the Milanese to prepare their boat. “I am not sure about accepting the offer coming from Milan,” Bortolotti told us, “I would like to at least know who will be going on the boat first. In our opinion, however, he will end up giving his assent, also because the hypothesis of seeing him, again with Roberti, Freedom (Azzurra’s new hare) is definitely gone. Of the Victory ’83 syndicate it is also known that it is possible to the agreement with the Italian Yacht Club to defend its very prestigious colors; Carlo Croce is taking care of the operation.

Spirit of America awaits in Portofino

In Portofino, on the other hand, people are waiting for Spirit of America the latest 12-meter built by Sparkman and Stephens. The boat may have to wait a few more days, both because the boat is still in San Diego, California, and because of bureaucratic difficulties related to payment arrangements. (Rome is having a hard time granting permission because of the substantial foreign currency deposit). The purchase contract has been signed, however, and, we were assured by Pino Ferlini who completed this transaction, Spirit will begin its first training sessions in Tigullio in a few weeks. Who will be on board is not known. The only known name is Massimo Devoto (a former Azzurra sailor) although it is likely that American sailors will come aboard for the world championship in Porto Cervo. “I am waiting for clarification in this sense from the organization,” Ferlini told us again. At the purchase of Spirit many technicians twisted their mouths: “It’s a heel,” a well-known designer who wishes to remain anonymous told us with a very colorful expression. Indeed Spirit does not have very brilliant results on its side. Intended by Dennis Conner with very original solutions especially for the stern exits, Sparkman and Stephens’ 12-meter was quickly shelved. Let’s hope that the Sangermani yard, commissioned by the union to build the new boat, can do better.

Challenge 12 and Victory ’82 for Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi.

The Perini Group, on the other hand, heads the syndicate that bought Challenge 12 (the “most expensive” twelve at $750,000) from the Australians. Tiziano Nava had been approached for the role of skipper, but even he, having weighed the pros and cons, ended up declining the invitation. Challenge 12 is nearing its first outing in Viareggio. In all likelihood Antonio Santella will be at the helm wheel also because the syndicate seems to want to lean on the Murphy sailmaker, which Santella himself heads. Last consortium is the one in Forte dei Marmi. “At the end of February,” Paolo Gai of the Forte dei Marmi Sailing Company told us, “we went to finalize the purchase of Victory “82.” The British boat is not listed as fast but still will cost $250,000. Here the name of the helmsman is still up in the air, although Mario Violati, who is in charge of the technical committee, certainly has a few names under his belt. Just to stay in Tuscany (but these are just guesses) they could be those of Marco Savelli or Tommaso Chieffi, especially if the latter fails to go to the Olympics in the 470. So far the unions. The story is so full of twists and turns (only 12 months ago it was absolutely unthinkable to prospect 5 unions in Italy) that it promises sparks every week. Meanwhile, the 1987 America’s Cup already has a winner, at least for” Italy: it’s North Sails Italy. “We are preparing jigs,” Ennio Buonomo of the sailmaker told us, “to produce sails for twelve in series. This is also a good record!

Luca Bontempelli

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