Welcome back Vanessa! The legendary boat of the brilliant Carcano is revived thanks to Bertelli (and wins with Grael)

Among the participants in the Regates Royales in Cannes, leading the way in the “Spirit of Tradition” category is a very special boat (just look at the profile of the deckhouse). Not only because of its helmsman, the “unknown” Torben Grael, five Olympic medals around his neck, two world tours (one of which he won) and three America’s Cup Campaigns behind him. Not only for the owner, Patrizio Bertelli, “Mr. Luna Rossa,” who restored her and restored her to her former glory, confirming himself as a true boat collector.

Vanessa, first-class 15-meter IOR made in 1975 by the Gallinari shipyard in Anzio, in mahogany laminated wood, is much more. It bears the signature of Giulio Cesare Carcano, one of Italy’s most ingenious designers. Whose boats are rare gems sought after by enthusiasts.

A MAN AGAINST THE TIDE
Who was Giulio Cesare Carcano (1910-2005)? A life divided between Guzzi motorcycles and sailboats-a genius who expressed himself in both fields with revolutionary designs. One cannot fail to mention, speaking of engines, the extraordinary 8-cylinder and the legendary 90° V-twin engine, from whose V , it seems, all his boats were named.

As a nautical designer, too, he was illuminated by a unique genius beginning with his first design in 1960, the Volpina, a 5.5 S.I. All of his boats in this class would be named after him: from 1960 to 1969 he designed eight: including his five Volpinas and Beppe Croce’s Manuela. They are all innovative boats: he was a true forerunner, designing light displacement boats with strong form straightening, which anticipated the world trend by at least five years.

THE GREAT LOVE FOR IOR CLASSES
After the 5.5 Carcano became interested in IOR classes, ranging from Class I to Class V. He designed boats for friends that had to please him, “As a designer,” Carcano recalled, “the IOR formula fascinated me because it allowed for varied and original solutions. The names of some of his IOR boats? Villanella, winner in 1976 in San Remo of the Two Ton Cup, Vanilla, a precursor hull that seems to anticipate the planing designs of Bruce Farr, Vanessa, Viola, Veronica, Vinca, Viluehla. Carcano also participated with Beppe Croce in the first contacts for an Italian challenge to the America’s Cup by meeting with U.S. President John F. Kennedy. But back then, in 1962, the time was not ripe.

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