Seven boats on which we have all dreamed of sailing at least once

There are boats that, for one reason or another, kidnap our hearts. They are not necessarily the most beautiful or the fastest, but they are the ones that have a “little something extra.” We have selected seven models that have made the history of world sailing, boats on which we have dreamed of sailing at least once in our lives. Do you remember them? And we take the opportunity to ask: What is the boat on which you would have liked to sail?

Esense

One of the most valuable jewels ever churned out by the Bassani shipyard is the 43-meter Wally Esense, designed by Bill Tripp. Obviously it belongs to the custom line, and in theory it can be driven solo: the deck is completely clear, 17 tons of carbon are used for the hull alone. “We are the largest consumer of carbon in Italy,” Bassani has often reminded. With Esense, technology applied to offshore sailing has reached levels that make other boats look prehistoric.

Merit

Another major project by Bruce Farr in preparation for the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race. Behind Steinlager 2 and Fisher & Paikel, the 80-foot sloop Merit placed third, helmed by Pierre Fehlmann. An exciting documentary was also filmed on the Merit boys’ adventure, which lasted 9 months and 33,000 miles of sailing.

Moor of Venice

Launched in the heart of Venice in an unforgettable ceremony, Raul Gardini’s Moro di Venezia came to Louis Vuitton with ambitions to win it. Designed by Germán Frers, leading a large group of people, including Giovanni Belgrano, Francesco Ricci and many others, it was launched in five examples, of which the last one turned out to be the most competitive. Aboard ITA 25, 22.9 meters long and a full 5.5 meters wide, sailors of the caliber of Paul Cayard (at the helm), Enrico and Tommaso Chieffi, Francesco Rapetti and Lorenzo Mazza. The Moor won the Louis Vuitton in 1992 acquiring the right to challenge America Cube. It was defeated 1-4 in San Diego, but Italy made history as the first non-English-speaking country to play against the defender.

My Song

One of the most admired boats of the early 2000s. Striking about this 84-foot maxi racer, designed by Reichel & Pugh in collaboration with Nauta Yachts, is its dual personality: outside it is racing machine, inside a comfortable, refined and luxurious cruising boat, with exposed carbon and ultralight composite furniture. A true cornerstone of the trade-off between performance and comfort. My Song belongs to clothing and textile tycoon Pier Luigi Loro Piana, and is a regular at all the prestigious regattas in the Mediterranean.

Rambler

Rambler 100 represents yet another ingenious project by Argentine Juan Kouyoumdjian. Commissioned in 2008 by Alex Jackson, who named the boat Speedboat, the hull was modeled based on ABN Amro I and II, which Kouyoumdjian designed for the 2005-06 VOR. The results came only after some changes in 2010 (when the boat took the name Rambler, with the arrival of skipper George David), such as reducing the area of the mainsail and increasing that of the jib.

Stealth

The genius of Germán Frers at the disposal of the Agnelli lawyer gave birth to the Stealth in 1996: a 26-meter boat with a 36-meter mast, built entirely of carbon except for the elegant teak deck. Blackest. In 1998 the boat accrues the Mediterranean crossing record, in 2001 it won the Fastnet among monohulls and the Jubilee Regatta (around the Isle of Wight to celebrate 150 years of the America’s Cup) in real time.

Steinlager

The Maxi winner of the Whitbread Round the World Race ’89-90, helmed by the late Peter Blake, won all the legs of the race, taking a beating from the other New Zealanders in Fisher & Paykel, led by Grant Dalton. Designed by Bruce Farr, who decided to reintroduce the ketch rigging, it proved to be particularly effective in carrying gaits. A winning modern interpretation of ancient concepts.