To win the America’s Cup, instinct still matters more than technology

“The time I was most afraid? I can’t call it fear, but when during the round-the-world voyage we were locked in a storm 2500 miles from Australia in the middle of the Indian Ocean, risking sinking, I certainly wasn’t serene.” The speaker is Mauro Pelaschier who was the featured speaker at the “Heart and Passion” meeting organized by the Parma Yacht Club. It was an exceptional evening because three Italians took the stage, representing a total of ten participations in the America’s Cup, the oldest and most famous regatta in the world.

In addition to Pelaschier, legendary helmsman of Azzurra who represented Italy in the Cup for the first time 30 years ago, told 360° their passion for sailing also Romolo Ranieri, three times with Luna Rossa and Gilberto Nobili, four participations, twice with Luna Rossa and twice with Oracle. The latter is one of the few Italians to have won the America’s Cup twice with the U.S. team, in 2010 and 2013.
And to think, recounted Nobili, 39, an avid canoeist, he had never been on a boat until Romolo Ranieri himself summoned him for a tryout on Luna Rossa in Punta Ala in 2001. Only much later did Nobili set foot on a Star, on the bow of Francesco Bruni, another America’s Cup veteran.

Even 48-year-old Romolo Ranieri was not born a sailor by family tradition like Pelaschier, who was practically born on a boat since he came to life inside a sailing club in Monfalcone. Romulus was a rugby player before taking his first steps in boating on a 34-foot cruiser. Then, he never stopped and made sailing his profession. His latest victory was at the last Middle Sea Race, aboard the boat skippered by his friend Francesco De Angelis, one of the very few Italians – in his opinion – who could set up a winning Italian America’s Cup campaign.

Gilberto Nobili, in the course of the evening, strenuously defended America’s Cup catamarans from the accusation that they are no longer boats, but only ultra-rational objects, where the sailor’s instincts are mortified in favor of technology. “In the end,” he cut to the chase, “even the 72-footers in the America’s Cup are boats where sailing skills remain a necessary element of winning. Technology and the immense amount of data available today are important, but not enough to win an America’s Cup.” He says this, who with Oracle, in addition to holding the position of grinder, developed the technology of wireless data transmission on board Oracle.

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THE THREE GREAT SAILORS WITH TEN AMERICA’S CUP ON THEIR BACKS

Mauro Pelaschier, 64, of Monfalcone, profession helmsman, all-around sailor and sailor. He was practically born on a boat, within the Cosulich sailing club, his father Adelchi being one of the great champions of the time and his uncle Hannibal a shipwright. He quickly became a champion, with the Finn winning everything except the Olympics.
In 1983, exactly 30 years ago, he became Italy’s most famous sailor with Azzurra, the first Italian helmsman in the America’s Cup with the first totally Italian boat to participate in the world’s most famous regatta. No one is betting a dime on the Italian boat, but Azzurra amazes everyone by reaching the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, an unthinkable result. Plus this year marks the 30-year anniversary of that event. Pelaschier also participated in the 1987 America’s Cup, also with Azzurra, and in the 2007 America’s Cup with Mascalzone Latino.
But Mauro Pelaschier is not only the man of Azzurra, he has led and won with boats of all kinds in all the seas of the world-an impressive resume-rich in adventures as well, such as at the Around the World in 1994 in crew (now Volvo Ocean Race) where he risked sinking with Brooksfield or the honor of being the only Italian helmsman to have won a World Match race championship.
He knows how to do everything in a boat, a family tradition, and even today, if you give him to steer a monohull boat rest assured that he plays it for the win.

Romolo Ranieri, 48, of Parma, a graduate in economics and business, a past as a rugby player, a life spent in the America’s Cup. With Luna Rossa since the team’s inception in 1999, he has participated in three editions of the America’s Cup, in 2000, 2003, 2007. Also famous for being the “cartoonist” of the Luna Rossa team, legendary for his drawing of the Piranha that also gave its name to the Prada team’s AC 45.
Eclectic and creative: he designed the Beijing Olympics T Shirts of Italian sailors and collaborated on some of the Prada Sport line. He has sailed on the world’s finest and fastest racing boats, such as the TP 52 Quantum and the 72-footer Bella Mente, participating in the world’s most important offshore races.He describes himself as “a true sailing enthusiast,” suggesting those who want to become good sailors first and foremost apply themselves with humility and passion. His dream: “to raise the America’s Cup to the sky.”

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Gilberto Nobili, 39, born in Castelnovo ne’ Monti (in the province of Reggio Emilia), has not yet been able to graduate with an engineering degree because, he says, “since I entered the world of the America’s Cup, I haven’t had a moment to spare.” He was the only Italian aboard the boat that won the 2013 America’s Cup.
And he is also one of the few Italians (remember Cico Rapetti victorious twice with Alinghi) to have won the America’s Cup twice, always with Oracle (the first time in 2010). He is a true veteran of the Cup, making his fourth participation (the first two times with Luna Rossa in 2003 and 2007). On board he is a grinder, but he doesn’t just turn the winches…. he also participated in the development of Oracle’s wireless navigation software.
He has also raced on the Star class, on the bow of Francesco Bruni, in his resume racing all over the globe, such as winning the 2005 Middle Sea Race with Atalanta II. If he doesn’t sail, he doesn’t leave the water; he is an avid river canoeist. His whole life is dedicated to sports; as a very young man he was also an excellent skier and middle-distance athlete. His motto in the regatta:””Never give up. Never give up.”