PHOTO The new Capricorn, discover the wowest 25m boat of the moment

Look at her. Observe it well, carefully. You are in the presence of one of the most beautiful boats in the world.

Welcome Capricorn

Named Capricorno, 83 feet (25 meters) long designed by Germans Judel&Vrolijk and built by Spaniards from King Marine, she is currently undergoing testing after her launching in late May. She is the latest masterpiece in the Capricorn saga, a long series of legendary boats born from the passion of one family, the Del Bono father (Rinaldo) and son (Alessandro), which has been going on since the 1980s.

The new Capricorn has not yet participated in any regattas, she was only seen in passing in Genoa where for three days she hosted onboard cancer patients being treated at the IEO (European Institute of Oncology) for the non-profit organization Wewillcare’s #patientsabord project.

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Capricorn, the boat and the owners

The Sailing Newspaper nominates the new Capricorn, despite not having won anything yet, to the Olympus of Boats of the Year 2024.

The reason is simple, the experts know. When a boat looks good on the water and makes you instinctively say WOW! as soon as you see it, you know that that is a special boat. No matter what competitive results he achieves, he rightfully enters the gallery of yachting history. Such as Thomas Lipton’s J Class Shamrock or Bertelli’s Luna Rossa, which did not always win, but certainly are inscribed among the memorable sailboats in history.

The Del Bono father and son are not the usual “dockside” shipowners. They go aboard almost all the time, they have won many regattas, but they should be known and respected for another feat as well. They sailed around the world, passing Cape Horn, turning a 79-foot pure racing yacht into an ocean cruiser. Memorable and unique feat, which we told you about here.

The new Capricorn 83 feet. What boat is

The new 83-foot Capricorn is a design that was created to compete in the Maxi class, which has its epicenter in the Mediterranean. The design is by the archistars of the German firm Judel&Vrolijk, who in this boat have (as you can see in the photos) changed their distinctive stern lines, removing the typical almost sharp-edged knee on either side of the transom. The stern is thus more harmonious. Also characteristic and aesthetically appealing is the recessed flaring of the hull/ deck junction edge that runs out mid-boat.

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Like all the latest maxis, Capricorn is equipped with water ballast, or water boxes on both sides. To straighten the boat, water is loaded on the windward side, when sailing in carrying gaits, and the boat stays upright, they empty completely.

To give you an idea of the status and eclecticism of the designers, they are the ones who just designed the new Wallywind 110

It is built by the King Marine shipyard based in Valencia, Spain, maker of winning boats in races such as America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, Rolex Middle Sea Race, RORC Transatlantic Race, RORC Caribean 600, and Barcolana.

The legendary crew

Del Bono owners also have great aesthetic taste, with that “chic” touch on all their Capricorns given by the double blue stripeson the waterline and sunflower yellow on the beauty line on snow-white hull. More importantly, they have also always had a great nose for crew selection.

Aboard the Capricorns for decades some of the great historical names of Italian sailing have been sailing together, such as Flavio Favini, Tiziano Nava, Giuli Romanengo, Matteo Plazzi, Alberto Bolzan, Alberto Fantini, Claudio Celon Stefano Rizzi, Vittorio Volontè, Giovanni Cassinari assisted by fresh forces such as Samul Nadi, Sandi Suc, Matteo Celon, Carlo Roccatagliata, and Guido Antar Vigna.

Flavio Favini was at the helm of one of the highest moments in the history of the various Capricorns, that with the ILC 46 (14 meters) of the 1995Admiral’s Cup victory in the team that also consisted of Mumm a Mia! and Brava Q8.

How the boat is doing, Favini speaks

Only good owners can maintain a loyal crew over the years that mixes experienced sailors and newcomers. The Del Bono family, father and son, have succeeded, starting with Flavio Favini, who told us his first impressions of the new Capricorn: “The boat is good, now you have to make it walk and make everything work, starting with the crew. This Capricorn is great! It also becomes nontrivial to hoist and lower a gennaker, fine-tune the deck plan, and find the crew synchronisms to maneuver well. Not to mention the proper use of water ballst. Then we will see how fast it will be“.

Favini also makes a point to keep in mind: “Such large, complicated boats usually take a couple of seasons to perform at their best.” This is not an excuse but the truth, based on what has happened with almost all winning maxi yachts that have taken time to make the most of.

The first regattas Capricorn will participate in are the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo from September 8 to 14 and immediately afterwards Les Voiles de Saint Tropez from September 30 to October 5.

Then you will see better if Capricorn and fast how beautiful it is.