Claudio Demartis: “Making for a fresh start in Trieste.”

With a track record of successful racing in dinghies and offshore classes, winner of three world titles, four rounds of Italy and several national titles, founder of Olympic Sails sailmaker, Claudio Demartis in his long career he has had the merit of transferring his experiences to many young sailors who, thanks to this, have won and continue to win in all the most important race courses in the world; then, as general manager, he made great the Barcolana and other highly successful sailing events.

The latest of his “creations” is. YES (an acronym for Yachting Entertainment Show), which we told you about. HERE: a great celebration of sailing in Trieste that will have its centerpiece in four events (from maxi regattas to Optimist juniors, from the coastal trial for all to the combined skipper and chef regatta), July 14-18.

INTERVIEW WITH CLAUDIO DEMARTIS

Claudio, where does the idea of YES come from?

It stems from the desire to do, to invent, the desire to create something that gives us a little bit of normalcy. We started thinking about it just before the pandemic began, and during the lockdown we reshaped and changed the initial idea until we arrived at the current plan of four regattas touching more, or less, all types of sailors and sea enthusiasts. But YES is in the making to become increasingly rich in events and opportunities to generate sports but also economic induced in the area, involving the entire Upper Adriatic.

How long have you been working there and how many?

I have gathered a small but highly professional team around me for more than a year. We are divided into three groups with very precise role assignments based on a detailed agenda of who does what.

What are the goals?

The primary goal is to return to life, including through racing, but also thinking about others. In fact, net of what we will spend in implementation, YES was created to help those in need or those in need. There are many difficult situations that the pandemic has accentuated, but the idea of organizing something for charity had been floating around in my head for some time.

How is your relationship with Barcolana?

Good ones from me. In the sense that I am very attached to the Barcolana and I think I have contributed in an important way to making it what it is now, which is one of the most important sailing events in the world.

I mean, do you want to compete with Barcolana?

Absolutely not. I never do anything “against,” I “do” because it is in my DNA. The Barcolana has been in existence for more than fifty years with a well-established reputation. I believe there is room for everyone and everyone’s ideas, indeed: welcome innovative projects that create enthusiasm and drive.

If you don’t mind me asking, why did you leave the scene in 2018?

You are asking me something really personal, but I can answer you. It was a very hard and long period, as if I experienced a short circuit. But it served me to understand many things better, and today I can say that it was necessary to make my life better.

And that is why I think it is time, not only to generate work for others, but also simply help for those who cannot work and need support. Already in 2019, organizing an all-female crew for a 90′ maxi, there was the embryo of what is my thinking today. Today they say that 60 is the new 40, and I have the same enthusiasm and drive as when I was in my 40s and thought I was invincible.

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