Despite this recent surge in Cup interest and ability, it’s not that long ago that the flamboyant Raul Gardini said, “In Italy we have neither the people nor the means to hope to win the Cup.” Despite this, Gardini presented his challenge to the San Diego Yacht Club in November 1988 with the swagger of a champion: “We enter the America’s Cup to win. I don’t see how we could have any other approach.”

On the 11^th of March, 1990, the first of five Il Moro di Venezia’s (ITA 1) was christened in Venice with an elaborate ceremony staged by Franco Zeffirelli to Ennio Morricone’s music. In May 1991 in San Diego, the Italians won the America’s Cup Class world championship with Paul Cayard at the helm. It was April 1992 when (©ACM (1987)/Photo:) the Italians faced New Zealand in the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. NZL 20, the Kiwis’ little red boat raced ahead of the Italians 4 to 1 in the final. Paul Cayard then protested the way the New Zealanders were using the bowsprit. The Jury took a victory from the Kiwis, making the score 3 to 1, and the Italians took full advantage of this psychological victory to race to victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup, contrary to all expectations. 

For the first time since 1970, with the advent of the Challenger selection series a European boat was going to race for the America’s Cup. The Italians then fell to Bill Koch’s America³, earning one race victory by just 3-seconds. Although the racing was close (America³ won its races by 0:30, 1:58, 1:04 and 0:44), the Italians were no match for the Defender. 

Gardini’s challenge may have failed, but Italian passion for the event was well established, the relationship with the Cup beginning over a decade previously. In March 1981, some members of the Porto Cervo Yacht Club Costa Smeralda met in Milan to launch a challenge for the Cup. Some months later, the consortium ‘Sfida Italiana America’s Cup 1983’ was established with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Commodore H.H. Karim Aga Khan, Gianni Agnelli, Beppe Croce, Gianfranco Alberini and Vincenzo ‘Cino’ Ricci, bought the 12-metre Enterprise (US 27). In October 1981, the Rome based Andrea Vallicelli office was given the brief to design Azzurra, built by the Yachts Officine in Pesaro. In July, 1982, Azzura was launched and sailed against Enterprise before heading for Newport. Skipper Cino Ricci handed the helm on Azzurra to Mauro Pelaschier. To the astonishment of Cup watchers, Azzurra reached the semi-finals of the Challenger series, finishing third behind the future winner of the America’s Cup, Australia II, and Victory 83. The success of the Azzurra campaign was celebrated across Italy. 

The strong performance of Azzurra, along with the victory of Australia II, had an exhilarating effect on the Italian campaigns for the Cup. In 1987 four syndicates were announced. To avoid diluting the efforts of the teams, the campaigns were consolidated into two teams which went to Fremantle, Australia – the Azzurra syndicate of the YC Costa Smeralda, which built three boats, and the Consortio Italia of YC Italiano of Genoa, which launched two boats. The Azzurra campaign was destabilized by power struggles while the Consortio Italia lost its second boat. Worse, the Italian challengers did not feel at ease in the choppy sea and strong winds off Fremantle. At the conclusion of the third Round Robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup, neither qualified for the semi-finals and returned to Italy. Italia, helmed by Tomasso Chieffi finished in seventh position in the Louis Vuitton Cup, while Azzurra, skippered by Mauro Pelaschier struggled to 11^th out of the 13 challengers. 

The 1987 debacle may have put a stop to Italy’s interest in the Cup, but the remarkable run of Gardini’s Il Moro campaign restored the passion. Gardini’s tragic death in 1993 meant there was no Italian team in 1995, but by 1999 Patrizio Bertelli was ready to step forward with his Prada Challenge.  

As in 1992, Italy reached the Louis Vuitton Cup finals in Luna Rossa (ITA 45) skippered by Francesco de Angelis. And, as in 1992, the challenger final would be the highlight of the event. Against Paul Cayard’s AmericaOne (USA 61), Luna Rossa commenced an epic battle. Down 4 matches to 3 in the ‘first to five’ final, de Angelis first evened the score and then won the final match by just 17-seconds. Italy’s Prada Challenge had just eliminated the Americans from the America’s Cup for the first time since 1851. Unfortunately for the Italians, that was as far as they would get, as Prada was swept aside by a powerful Team New Zealand, 5 to 0 in the America’s Cup Match. 

In 2002, two Italian teams made the journey to Auckland for the next America’s Cup: Prada Challenge was back, still headed by Patrizio Bertelli, while the Mascalzone Latino Challenge was led by Vincenzo Onorato. Mascalzone Latino (ITA 72) was steered by Paolo Cian but didn’t make it to the quarter-finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Luna Rossa (ITA 74), skippered by Francesco de Angelis fell in the semi-finals to Peter Gilmour’s OneWorld (USA 67).  

The disappointment of 2003 hasn’t dampened Italian enthusiasm for 2007, with three Italian challengers looking to take the Cup from Ernesto Bertarelli. At the end of September this year, all three will engage in battle with the nine other teams of the 32^nd America’s Cup in Trapani. The +39 Challenge, Luna Rossa Challenge and Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team will all enjoy home support in a country that has a great passion for the Cup. 

J.T./pr

Officially registered syndicates: Luna Rossa, Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team and +39 Challenge.

Rumoured projects not realised: Toscana Challenge, Lombardia Challenge, Nautor Challenge, IACC City, Sailing Planet/Coppa America a Valencia, Marco Polo Challenge, Magic Sailing Team, Italian Challenge.