What is the Italian superboat that wants to win the Grand Slam of sailing
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Made in Italy sailing to conquer the world. It will try for the “Fast & Furio Sailing Team” in 2021 to grab the Grand Slam of offshore sailing, that is, to participate with chances to win the four mythical races Giraglia, Fastnet, Middle Sea Race and, on the other side of the world, the Sydney – Hobart. No one in the same year has ever attempted such a feat; a mostly Triestine crew under the command of Furio Benussi, a four-time winner of the world’s most crowded regatta, the Barcolana, is trying.
Along with him other big names in Trieste sailing, Stefano Spangaro, Lorenzo Bressani, Alberto Bolzan and Gabriele Benussi, and two girls in the midst of their Tokyo 2020 Olympic campaign with their 49er FX, Francesca Bergamo and Alice Sinno.
THE RENAISSANCE OF A SUPERBARCA
Even more intriguing is the story of the boat with which they will attempt this record. It is the Wild Thing (m. 30.48 x 5.0 m), a previous winner in the 2005 Barcolana under the name Skandia (always Benussi at the helm) and in 2003 first to cross the finish line at the Sydney Hobart.
Wild Thing had been lying half-abandoned in a yard since 2015. Benussi and his “Fast & Furio Sailing Team” found this 100-foot superboat they knew well.
SPONSOR ARK SAYS YES AND IT ALL BEGINS
They realized that this was the right boat to realize their Grand Slam dream. They turned to their traditional sponsor, the Italian Arca Fondi sgr (an asset management company with 31 billion in funding) with whom they have already won the last two editions of the Barcolana with Spirit of Portopiccolo. They introduced him to Ugo Loser, CEO of Arca and also from Trieste. Loser and the board said yes, committing to this “Made in Italy” program that has already started and runs until 2022.
Wild Thing is now in Menorca, in the port of Mahon, where early modification work continues apace, coordinated by Stefano Spangaro.
IT’S SIXteen YEARS OLD BUT WILL BE BRAND NEW
major changes for this super boat, which races for the Adriaco Yacht Club. Eventually it will be cut and modified in both the aft (now) and the forward part (next year). Total cut-and-sew interventions will affect as many as 28 of the 30 meters. The supermaxi, which weighs only 24 tons and has a seven-meter-deep canting keel, will be equipped with side-supporting foils that can, if not make her “fly,” significantly increase performance by raising her up on the water in carrying gaits. The mast and sail plan will also be renovated with a shift aft of the sail center and with larger jibs. The new sails are the work of another Trieste institution, the Olimpic sailmaker. Wild Thing’s renovation and upgrade project is the work of one of the great masters of design, Shaun Carkeek, former partner at Botin and designer of some of the winning Volvo Ocean Race boats.
FIRST EXIT AT BARCOLANA (FORSE)
Thefirst results of the work of the “new” Wild Thing/Arca will be seen on September 27 at the offshore regatta “Trieste – S.Giovanni in Pelago – Trieste.” Then, perhaps, it will be at the Barcolana on October 13. “We don’t know yet whether we will take part in the Barcolana with Wild Thing/Arca or with Spirit of Porto Piccolo. The one that will be faster from the tests will participate,” Furio Benussi sentenced.
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