40 YEARS OF SAILING STORIES Ugo Tognazzi “Bathing Stop at Cape Horn.”

Actor Ugo Tognazzi in 1976 writes a surreal article about his sailing experiences with Enzo Jannacci and plans to convert a cruise ship into a sailing one with which to sail around the world, stopping at Cape Horn

“My friend Enzo Jannacci invited me to take a ride on his boat in Bordighera…. I showed up very elegant: white pants, blue jacket with gold buttons, scarf with coats of arms…

I thought that Jannacci, who had become very rich thanks to his songs, had one at least 30 meters long… that miser was fiddling around in a rickety little 6-meter boat… before I could recover from the shock, Enzo had jumped ashore holding some kind of butt-hold… which was then a contraption so I could put on a trapeze… hanging from that cable I looked beautiful in that yachtman’s outfit… at one point a really strong gust caused us to capsize and I ended up soaking and ruining my suit…at dusk, when I thought I was going to drown, they came to rescue us with a fishing boat…in spite of Jannacci I was fascinated by the beauty of the sport… now I learned all about sailing. And I do the boat:

I had a brilliant idea, I buy a disused cruise ship and with the help of my architect cousin turn it into a sail….

22 masts, no spi 22,000 sq. m…she will reach 122 knots…my cabin will be 360 square meters…the boat will be fully automated and I alone will be enough to steer her so I don’t need anyone. I myself will provide the galley with my usual mastery. First cruise starting from Cremona, a double round-the-world trip (stop for bathing at Cape Horn) and arrival in Torvaianica, where my private marina should be built.”

WHO IS UGO TOGNAZZI

Ugo Tognazzi (1922 – 1990) one of Italy’s greatest actors, was also a refined and ironic comedian. A friend of our founder Mario Oriani made up a fake interview where he told of his sailing adventures and wacky ambitious projects. In reality he loved the sea to swim in Torvaianica.

DISCOVER THE “STORIES OF 40 YEARS OF SAILING”