Roberto Ferrarese, from offshore to match-race, an “allround” sailor

The 1994 Sailor of the Year was Roberto Ferrarese, an example of a modern “multitasking” racer. Class of 1956, he was born in Bari, and began sailing at the age of 10. At the age of fifteen, his first major success came in 1971: he won the European Flying Junior Championships in Germany.

From that time for him began a long career on the Olympic classes in 470, Flying Dutchman, Star and Soling. He participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, in two America’s Cup Campaigns with Italy in Australia and with the Moor of Venice in San Diego, as well as being a coach for +39Challenge. He was awarded the Gold Medal for Athletic Valor three times. In Italy, he is one of the leading match-race experts (his son Simone followed in his father’s footsteps and achieved important results in match-race as well as being a level finnist).

WHY WE HAD REWARDED HIM
Excerpted from Il Giornale della Vela, March 1994: “It is Roberto Ferrarese who is the best, he is the winner of The Sailor of the Year 1994 award. The jury, also based on the voting records of the readers of our newspaper, decided to award Ferrarese “For his years of activity in many classes and for his important achievements in different boats.” Ferrarrese, 36, from Bari, while receiving the award, pointed out that the recognition also went to Giuseppe Degennaro, owner of Larouge, a boat of which Ferarrese is helmsman, and which, in addition to two partial participations in the Admiral’s Cup, won the Two Ton Class world title in ’91 and ’93.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE SAILOR OF THE YEAR ROLL HERE