Farewell Bob Oatley, the last great duck in love with sailing

Robert “Bob” Oatley has died. The owner of (or rather “of”) Wild Oats sailed his last sail yesterday at the age of 87. A wine magnate, Oatley was not only one of Australia’s richest men, but with his maxi Wild Oats he has dominated race courses around the world in recent decades (remember the legendary challenges with Alfa Romeo?), although his last great challenge, bringing home the Sydney-Hobart for the umpteenth time, faded a few days ago due to a technical problem.

Thanks to him, it looked like Australia really had what it took to take back the America’s Cup in 2017 (a bid that has since faded due to steadily rising costs and unclear rules). We dedicate to Oatley the memory of our editorial manager Alessandro de Angelis, who met him, if only for a few minutes, exactly ten years ago. And demonstrating the sporting spirit of one of the last great papermakers of world sailing.

It was the spring of 2006. I was wandering around the Santa Margherita docks between breaks in the Pirelli Trophy races. With me a couple of crewmates: we were a group of young friends (I with my 28 years was the oldest) participating in regattas with a lot of adventurous spirit, but with little experience at high levels.
That season, the boat that literally dominated regattas around the Mediterranean was only one, Wild Oats XI, owned by Australian wine magnate Bob Oatley. After seeing her in the water in those days, it was irresistible to try to study her more closely on land as well.

Arriving in front of the Australian giant, I would have given anything to get on board. Next to me was an older, very elegant couple, both of whom were already fully dressed for the evening, while my companions and I were wearing T-shirts still full of salt, Bermuda shorts, and I don’t remember if we were even barefoot. The man looks at me and smiles, speaking in a strange accent, “I’m really sorry, can’t you get on board. We are preparing the boat for tomorrow.” I don’t remember what I replied, such was my surprise that the owner of the world’s most successful boat would address us so simply, in true seafaring spirit.

We stood talking on the pier, as if we had known each other forever. Or simply, as is done between sailors.